Sports

Warriors Beat Kings on Big Night of Trades

Published

11 years ago

February 20, 2014

Sacramento, CA – Being without their starting center the Golden State Warriors assumed they had to do more both offensively and defensively to start the second half of the season off right. Hours before tipoff two of their players were traded and that might’ve fueled them even more.

With the trade deadline a day away both teams made moves to increase their talent. The Kings sent Marcus Thompson to the Brooklyn Nets for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans while the Warriors sent Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Steve Blake.

“Both guys are veterans and have been around the league and I know they will come in here with the right mindset,” said Michael Malone. “The value in both is that they can be tremendous role models for these young guys.”

“First one I’ve been around and it was kind of emotional,” Andre Iguodala said regarding the trade. “He was a great kid, great character and a hard worker. I wasn’t around him [Bazemore] long but he had an impact on me. We wish him nothing but the best.”

Sacramento lost to Golden State 101-92. This is the second time Warriors have beaten the Kings at home. Tonight’s win wasn’t difficult especially since Sacramento committed 21 turnovers. Golden State took advantage of that and scored 22 points off those turnovers, despite their best shooter having a subpar game.

“That team has enough fire power offensively–you don’t have to give them many possessions,” said Malone. “We seemed hell bent on giving them as many possessions as possible.”

Both teams were without key players due to trades and injuries. The Warriors played more aggressively and became more dominant in the end. David Lee finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Klay Thompson with 18 points and Stephen Curry added 13 points and eight assists. Curry who was a starter in the NBA All-Star game didn’t have his best night but felt his team played well enough for the win.

“It was a game that we were suppose to win,” Curry said. “I didn’t score a lot but I kept my turnovers down, I didn’t have any tonight. I was able to make the right decisions with the ball and that helps our team get wins in clutch time.”

Isaiah Thomas scored a game-high 26 points, reaching the 20-point plateau for the 32nd time this season. But that wasn’t enough to stop the hot handed Warriors. Travis Outlaw finished with 18 points and Rudy Gay added 16 points and eight rebounds. The inability to share the ball has became a huge concern for Malone, too much ball handling and not enough passing has stirred the coaches corner.

“We have to try and get back to becoming a team that shares and moves the ball,” said Malone.

“I don’t think it’s selfishness. We’ve just got to be smarter,” Gay said. “And I’m saying this including myself. There are times you think you can score, but you have to make your team better.”

The Kings are without their leading scorer and center DeMarcus Cousins, who has a strained left hip flexor. Without him Sacramento has fallen 0-8 this season, but while the deadline approaches the fans are hoping that more moves can be made in bringing this team back to it’s playoff caliber.

In the meantime, the Warriors hold the cards this season, they have won three of their four meetings against the Kings thus far. The last regular season game for these two teams will be on April 4 at Oracle Arena. Until then it’s still a work in progress, there’s still a lot of basketball to be played and the team looks forward to turning things around.

Notes – Kings “Donate Life” Night – Transplant Recipients vs. Doctors was an exhibition pre-game prior to tip-off. The team consisted of transplants – of hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys and pancreases. They are all healthy and ready to take on another exceptional team — surgeons, doctors and nurses.

“The docs and nurses better look out – because I’m 6 feet tall and I’m taking no prisoners,” boasts heart transplant recipient, 44-year-old Nicole Ludwig. “I’m so excited to be doing this. Since I’ve had my transplant, I’ve wanted to give back and get the word out on donation — because, without my donor, I wouldn’t be here. Because of him, all of my dreams are coming true and I’m just so grateful.”

Fourteen year old liver transplant recipient, Connor Cheney, echoes those thoughts, “I am thankful to get the chance to show how very healthy I am – as we take on the doctors. My parents and family have called me their “superstar” since I received my life-saving transplant at 14 months old. That’s because I am alive and well and living my best life — all from the awesome gift from my donor.”

Meanwhile, the doctors are also gearing up for their big night on an NBA court. Dr. Kevin Anderson, a urologist with Kaiser Permanente, says he was a bit unsure which team he should be playing on, since he’s a heart transplant recipient, as well. But, he decided to suit up on the physician/nurses team – though he jokes that he might not be that much help. “Looking at the metaphysical part of things, when I was asked if I can play basketball, all I could say is, I’m hoping my donor was a great basketball player, because otherwise I’m sunk.”

Finally, Kings Vice President Phillip Horn, who spearheaded the Kings Donate Life Night in order to help raise awareness of the critical need for organ and tissue donors, will also be taking to the court, on the recipient team, as a living donor. He donated his kidney to his wife, Danea, last fall.

“It’s an incredible honor to be on the same floor as so many amazing organ recipients who have returned to full health to play a basketball game and to represent my wife,” says Phillip. “I hope that we can take it easy on these docs so they can keep saving lives!”

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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

1 month 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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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

4 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.

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OPINION: Politics, Football and Identity in Trump’s America

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

Published

4 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Emil Guillermo

Two Filipino American stories made headlines recently.

First, Nikko Remigio, the Filipino and African American kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, did not win Super Bowl LIX.

The other, Alameda’s Rob Bonta said no to running for governor. I don’t blame him. It’s not like a mass of people wanted him to run.

But I did.

Whenever there is a Filipino American in a place you don’t expect, I’m rooting for that person.

As California’s Attorney General, Bonta is probably the most active defender among Blue States pushing back against Trump’s Extreme-Right agenda.

I’d like to Bonta run for California’s top job, but he’s better off waiting in line. The Democrats need a spot for Kamala Harris, and Bonta not running obliges the hierarchy.

History can wait. Bonta’s just 52.

Harris has held off speculation of her next move, saying she just moved back to the state. But it seems governor is the path for her.

For now, Bonta needs to continue taking the fight to Trump in the courts.

Football and Identity Politics

My dad, whose birthday would have been Super Bowl weekend, came to the US in 1928 as a colonized Filipino, an “American National,” where he couldn’t be a citizen, vote, own property or even marry the person he wanted.

Not if they were White.

Still, he believed in America. He never gave up.

Sort of like Nikko Remigio.

My dad would have loved Nikko.

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

You want to get passionate about Eagles and Chiefs?

Let’s be passionate about our Founding Fathers, too.

Nikko didn’t change the game. He touched it three times and provided more yards than all of KC’s running backs.

That’s all I needed to see.

He’s our Filipino guy.

Detractors may call it “identity politics.”

People don’t seem to understand the fight for visibility. To be recognized. To be seen. It’s all wrapped up in the big idea of Civil Rights.

I was nowhere near as good as Nikko when I played. But when you are blessed to play football, you play your hardest.

For me, that was when I was 12 and 13 playing Pop Warner football in San Francisco. I was MVP for my team as a running back.

But I was ashamed of my dad. He wasn’t like the other dads. And I remember going to the team banquet to retrieve my trophy alone.

I didn’t realize it probably meant more to him than I thought.

I wish I had shared my MVP moment with him like Nikko shared his joy with his dad, Mark, born in Seattle to two Filipino immigrants, and his mom, whose mixture of Black and White made Nikko the picture of diversity.

Filipino American and Black and White at the Super Bowl.

But don’t forget, there is one game bigger.

The Super Bowl for Democracy. We’re battling for it every day Trump pushes a cockamamie idea that shakes the foundation of our Democracy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. Watch his micro-talk show “Emil Amok’s Takeout/What Does an Asian American Think?” on www.YouTube.com/emilamok1 Or join him on http://www.patreon.com/emilamok