Sports

Golden State Warriors Celebrate Black History Month

Published

8 years ago

February 20, 2018

Warriors host Black History Month is Golden postgame panel discussion on the court with event moderator KNBR radio personality Rod Brooks and panelists; two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA legend Ruthie Bolton, Warriors Assistant Coach, Mike Brown, San Jose City College Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Percy Carr, UC Berkeley Professor, Dr. Harry Edwards, Former Mayor of Oakland, Elihu Harris and San Francisco 49ers Guard, Joshua Garnett.

Photo by: Carla Thomas

Throughout the month of February, the 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors have celebrated Black History Month with a variety of activities, themed “Black History Month is Golden.” Coined by Warrior Forward Andre Iguodala in 2015, Saturday night was no exception as the organization hosted a courtside panel discussion featuring Black history makers, immediately after the Warriors defeated the San Antonio Spurs. Guests assembled in courtside seats just yards from event moderator KNBR radio personality Rod Brooks with legends and leaders on and off the court. P

Bolton played in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) with the Sacramento Monarchs. Currently, she is the head coach for women’s basketball at Vacaville Christian High School in Vacaville, sings gospel and participates in the SportsUnited Sports Envoy program for the u.s. Department of State conducting basketball clinics for youth and women worldwide.

“I grew up in a household where are my parents tolerated no excuses,” she said.

Harry Edwards noticed his friends were dropping out of junior high school and asked his dad if he could do the same. “My father firmly responded: “‘You’re going to school if I have to send you in an ambulance.’”

Edwards worked with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and joined the Black Panther Party with Huey P. Newton.

As Professor Emeritus of Sociology at UC Berkeley with a PhD from Cornell University, Edwards has served as a consultant to the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors.

The Author of The Revolt of the Black Athlete, was the architect of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, which led to the Black Power Salute protest by African-American San Jose State University athletes Tommy Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

“Black history is American history it’s all of us together,” said Edwards.

Coach Percy Carr credited a mentor that helped him develop as a coach at San Jose State University. Carr earned his 900th career victory during a recent 72-63 triumph at Hartnell College in Salinas, California.

At 73, Carr has the most wins of all time among black men’s coaches in college basketball history.

Elihu Harris, the 46th mayor of Oakland served the California State Assembly and was also Chancellor of Peralta Community College.

Harris received a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley and a law degree from UC Davis School of Law.

“We were from a family of educators in Arkansas and my grandpa graduated from college in 1908,” said Harris.

“Black History Month is a time to acknowledge our ancestors, their struggles and the sacrifices they made for us.”

San Francisco 49ers Football Guard Joshua Garnett said his father explained the vulnerabilities of being an athlete and encouraged him to strengthen his mind. The Stanford University graduate is also the son of Scott Garnett, who also played for the 49ers.

“This is a time to both celebrate our heritage and educate people on our culture,” said Garnett.

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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

1 week 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.