Warriors Stars Show Loyalty to The Bay
The NBA is a league defined by superstardom and making the right moves at the right time.
For the Warriors, this meant drafting Stephen Curry at No. 7 in 2009 drafting Draymond Green in the second round in 2012, and Klay Thompson at No. 11 in 2011.
On draft day, these three watched as other teams passed them on, not willing to take a chance at these talented yet lesser-known players.
As a result, Curry, Thompson and Green showed their loyalty to The Bay by sticking together. The trio has three of the top six longest-tenured active players with the same team in the NBA. Curry is currently in his 13th season, Klay in his 11th, and Draymond in his 10th.
The loyalty the Warriors stars have shown is second-to-none in a league that has changed into who can create the next super-team. “Homegrown Hoops”, is one way to put it, per ShopWarriorsTalk’s latest merch drop honoring the trio. Paying homage to Golden State’s core players being drafted, rather than traveling from team to team, chasing rings.
We've seen franchise players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant leaving their teams and teaming up with other stars to make, for a better lack of words, the Avengers of basketball. Much debate surrounds the ethical decisions of creating such a team since a ripple effect is the league's level of competitiveness.
Is it fair to say that the league is less fun to watch when there is no parody?
On the other hand, the Warriors are not like the rest of the league. Yes, they've attracted big free agents in the past, but their stars are all home-grown, loyal to The Bay, and never once requested a trade out of frustration.
After their five-year dynasty ended with current Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant leaving and Klay injuring his ACL, Curry could have easily called it quits and tried his luck at a championship elsewhere.
Instead, Curry stuck with the team, even with one of the worst seasons in his career, and his loyalty was paid off.
Now, a mere two years later, the Warriors are back in the championship hunt. They've flipped the script. The front office turned D'Angelo Russell into Andrew Wiggins (now a first-time All-Star starter) and Jonathan Kuminga (who will play a critical role in their future).
Draymond seems rejuvenated and motivated once more. His defensive prowess is on full display every night, and his usual crazy stat-lines have returned. Now averaging 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists, the Michigan State product is seeking his second DPOY award.
As for Klay, the sea captain returned from two of the worst injuries any athlete can suffer. It's a small sample size, but the splash brother has averaged 15.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists since his comeback.
These Oakland Originals have shown their loyalty to The Bay, which has responded. As a result, the iconic Oracle Arena set a new franchise record with 311 consecutive sellouts.
These three are built different. Loyal to The Bay, and as a result, the fans remain loyal to them.
(Photo credit: Getty images)