feature-image

Imago

feature-image

Imago

For the first time in a while, Chase Center roared like it used to. This wasn’t just about threes and highlight plays. It was about grit. Kevon Looney, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II: All core Warriors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 52 points, but it didn’t matter. These three willed Steve Kerr’s Golden State to a massive 116-109 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder! But who got them to Golden State? Bob Myers.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

So, Bob Myers back at Chase Center? Yeah, that’ll get people talking. The former Warriors GM was in the building on Wednesday, not making front-office moves but calling the game for ESPN. Feels weird, right? After 12 years of shaping Golden State’s dynasty, he walked away in 2023. One of the best GMs in the game, just…gone.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now, instead of building rosters around Stephen Curry, he’s breaking them down on TV. A wild career shift, and plenty of people are still adjusting. During the game, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater snapped a shot of Bob Myers chatting with Joe Lacob. His second game in this homestand and his second time in the booth!

So what did they talk about?

ADVERTISEMENT

A move that’ll save the Warriors season? Myers spilled the beans on 95.7 The Game on YouTube. When host Daryle “The Guru” Johnson asked what made Lacob laugh, Myers admitted he wasn’t entirely sure. “I just said, you know, it’s a long game and, you know, it’s gonna be better,” Myers recalled, noting that Lacob’s body language showed how much he wanted the win. He also joked, “I think I might have said ‘You got the deadline coming up, if you need to’, you know, something like that.”

Myers was impressed by the Warriors’ turnaround, calling it “a top-five win” and credited Andrew Wiggins and Brandin Podziemski for shifting the momentum. Bob is correct. And did the Warriors celebrate? You already know it. They did.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ice water for Steve Ker, no champagne!

Golden State’s locker room was a mess—melting ice chips everywhere, a sign of the postgame celebration. Steve Kerr took an ice-water shower from his players, a fitting reaction after the Warriors pulled off their biggest win in months against the Thunder.

ADVERTISEMENT

Steph put it best: “We need some feel-good energy around here… can’t forget to celebrate the small wins and infuse some joy.” That joy has been missing. The Warriors started 12-3 but then spiraled, dropping 20 of their next 32. Lately, they’ve looked nothing like contenders. But on Wednesday night, with their backs against the wall, they reminded everyone who they can be.

ADVERTISEMENT

article-image

Imago

Nobody expected much. No Draymond Green. No Jonathan Kuminga. A 10-point underdog at home, on the second night of a back-to-back, against the West’s best team. But Golden State didn’t fold. They scrapped, they hustled, and they finally looked like themselves.

Wiggins led with 27 points. Curry, ice-cold early, turned it on late, sinking five threes and scoring 17 in the second half. Kevon Looney tied his career high with 18 points. Gary Payton II? He added 15 points, nine rebounds, and a ridiculous poster dunk on Isaiah Hartenstein.“I haven’t been hunting it, but I know I haven’t been up there in a while,” Payton joked!

ADVERTISEMENT

Kerr, fresh out of his soaked tracksuit, kept it light. “You could see the belief, the energy,” he said. “We’ve got to sustain it.” Let’s hope this will not be the only celebration for the Warriors in the near future. And they can sustain this momentum. What do you think?

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Vishwanadha Vamsi Vasisht

851 Articles

Vamsi Vasisht is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. Having followed basketball for years, he explores the intricacies of the game, diving deep into player dynamics and team strategies. Vamsi's favorite player, Luka Dončić, serves as a constant source of inspiration, influencing his insights and analyses. Through engaging narratives, he aims to connect with readers and enhance their appreciation for the sport. He bring a passion for basketball and storytelling to the forefront of his work.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Daniel D'Cruz

ADVERTISEMENT