Sports

Curry Wants What LeBron Has in Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals

Published

11 years ago

May 28, 2015

Golden State Warriors players celebrate after Game 5 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals against the Houston Rockets in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 27, 2015. The Warriors won 104-90 and advanced to the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer

Stephen Curry and LeBron James, this season’s brightest stars taking basketball’s biggest stage.

The NBA Finals start June 4 with the Golden State Warriors against the Cleveland Cavaliers, two teams who have little experience playing this time of year.

James does, getting ready to appear in his fifth straight finals. He won two titles in Miami before coming back home to Ohio, and now Curry wants what the four-time MVP has.

“He’s been here plenty of times before, five straight finals appearances, I think, so we’ve got to bring our A game if we’re going to beat a great team and a great player like that four times,” Curry said. “We’re excited about the challenge. He had to win his first one at some point, and nobody on our team has experienced that, so we’re going to be fighting like crazy every night.”

Not for a while, though. Both teams were so good in the conference finals that they won too fast, the Cavaliers finishing a sweep of top-seeded Atlanta in the East on Tuesday and the Warriors completing their five-game victory over Houston a night later.

The lengthy layoff will benefit banged-up players on both teams, and provide plenty of time to hype the Curry-James duel.

They started in the same place, born in the same Akron, Ohio hospital, but couldn’t have been more different upon arriving in the NBA. James was the can’t-miss Chosen One taken with the top pick in the 2003 draft, a perfect 6-for-8 combination of size and speed.

Curry had the sweet shot but a small stature, considered by many not big enough for NBA super stardom when he was drafted out of Davidson in 2009. Yet he put together a season-long highlight package this season with his brilliant ballhandling and smooth stroke and was voted MVP, finishing two spots ahead of James.

Curry averaged 31.2 points and shot nearly 50 percent from 3-point range in the West finals, while James nearly averaged a triple-double in the Cavs’ four-game romp.

The Warriors have home-court advantage after winning a league-best 67 games. But the Cavaliers, despite a difficult start to the season and the loss of Kevin Love, have been even better in the postseason, with a 12-2 record.

“No matter what happens from here on out, to see what we’ve accomplished being a first-year team together that’s had different changes throughout the course of the season, that’s faced so many obstacles throughout the season — injuries here, transactions here, lineups here — it’s something we can be very proud of to this point,” James said.

This will be his second crack at trying to help the Cavs win their first title. They got there in 2007 but were swept by San Antonio. The Warriors are seeking their first championship since 1975.

Here are some things to watch in the finals:

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: The Warriors’ Steve Kerr and the Cavaliers’ David Blatt — who nearly signed on to work under Kerr before getting the Cleveland job — make this the first time since the league’s first championship series that both coaches are rookies.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Golden State is 46-3 at Oracle Arena this season. The Cavaliers have become just as unbeatable on their home floor, winning 26 of their last 28 games at Quicken Loans Arena, including 18 by double digits.

SORE STARS: Kyrie Irving has been MVP of the All-Star Game and the Basketball World Cup — where he started in the U.S. backcourt alongside Curry. Now he gets his chance in the NBA Finals, with plenty of time to rest the knee and foot injuries that caused him to miss two games in the conference finals. The time off will also benefit fellow All-Star and world champion Klay Thompson, who began experiencing concussion symptoms after being kneed in the head in the series clincher against Houston and will have to pass the league’s concussion protocol before returning to action.

CONTAINING THE KING: Kawhi Leonard turned in a solid defensive effort against James last year when San Antonio beat Miami. Among the options for the Warriors against James is Draymond Green, the runner-up to Leonard this season for Defensive Player of the Year.

AGITATING AUSSIES: Warriors center Andrew Bogut got under Dwight Howard’s skin, and Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova has angered opponents in the last two rounds, so players on both sides will have to avoid getting fired up by a feisty one from Down Under.

___

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.