Wearing the throwback jerseys was a player-driven idea that was approved by the NBA and NikeNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Prior to the final regular-season tipoff at Oracle Arena before the Warriors' move to Chase Center next season, Stephen Curry last night "shed his warmups and surprisingly revealed a throwback uniform that acted as an homage to the 'We Believe' team," according to Rusty Simmons of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The Warriors said that the ode to the '07 team that ended the franchise's 12-season playoff drought was a "player-driven idea that had to be OK'd with the NBA and league outfitter Nike." The players started chatting about the idea "about two months ago, and the NBA, which often demands years advance notice for teams to wear new uniforms, helped the Warriors find a fast track through the usual red tape." Kevin Durant said, "I didn't know about it until last week. It was a great surprise, great for the fans. I'm sure it was a nostalgic moment for everybody in the stands." Coach Steve Kerr was informed about the uniforms "about 24 hours before the game, and some of the players didn't know they had gotten league approval" until Warriors Dir of Team Operations Eric Housen "wheeled the jerseys into the locker room." The game-worn jerseys "will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the Warriors' Community Foundation" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/8). In San Jose, Dieter Kurtenbach notes when the Warriors starting lineup "removed their blue warmups to unveil the surprise uniforms," the Oracle Arena crowd "let out a deep, bone-rattling roar" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 4/8).
SAYING GOODBYE: YAHOO SPORTS' Jack Baer notes the Warriors' move to S.F. next year is a "very mixed bag for many fans, and an outright negative for the ones in Oakland." The team's "biggest gesture toward its time in Oakland was a banner reading 'Oakland, California: 47 seasons' that will hang in the new Chase Center." It is a "bittersweet moment for a team that was selling tickets even during the dark times" between '95-'12 in which the Warriors "made the playoffs a grand total of once" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/8).
