BIND TOGETHER: The Warriors are NBA champions after beating the Celtics 103-90 in Game 6
NBA Finals Schedule
- Game 1 – Thursday, June 2 at 6 p.m. PT – The Celtics beat the Warriors 120-108
- Game 2 – Sunday, June 5 at 5pm PT – The Warriors beat the Celtics 107-88
- Game 3 – Wednesday June 8, 6pm PT – The Celtics beat the Warriors 116-100
- Game 4 – Friday June 10 at 6pm PT – The Warriors beat the Celtics 107-97
- Game 5 – Monday June 13 at 6 p.m. PT – The Warriors beat the Celtics 104-94
- Game 6 – Thursday June 16 at 6pm PT – The Warriors beat the Celtics 103-90
- Game June 7 – June 19 at 5 p.m. PT (unnecessary)
They both played for …
Somehow Gregg Popovich has to make do.
Ime Udoka and Steve Kerr have both played for Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs, both have served under him as assistant coaches, and neither makes any effort to hide their affinity for the NBA’s career victory leader.
And now Udoka and Kerr are about to face off.
Udoka contro Udoka Kerr
Udoka has the chance to become the 10th manager to win a title in his first season. Eddie Gottlieb (Philadelphia Warriors 1947), Buddy Jeanette (Baltimore Bullets 1948), John Kundla (Minneapolis Lakers 1949), George Senesky (Philadelphia Warriors 1956), Paul Westhead (Los Angeles Lakers 1980), Pat Riley (Los Angeles Lakers 1982), Tyronn Lue (Cleveland Cavaliers 2016) and Nick Nurse (Toronto Raptors 2019) are eight of the coaches who have accomplished the feat.
The other name on this list is Kerr, who made it in 2015 with Golden State, the start of this great streak for the Warriors. That was the start of six final appearances in eight years, with two exceptions when they were held from play-offs in 2020 and 2021 due to injuries and a team reshuffle.
Udoka played for Popovich and later served as San Antonio’s assistant. Kerr played for Spurs and then assisted Popovich with USA Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, when the Americans won their fourth consecutive gold medal.
How many leagues?
For the Celtics, it’s a chance for an 18th NBA championship, which would break the draw with the Los Angeles Lakers for the biggest in championship history.
For the Warriors, it’s a hit to the seventh crown, which would break a draw with the Chicago Bulls for third place in league history.
It is also a replay of the 1964 Finals when Bill Russell and the Celtics defeated the Warriors in five games.
departmental thing
Golden State could reach a rarity: winning the NBA championship after failing in its division.
Each of the last 10 NBA champions has also won their own division this season. The last non-winning division to win the title was Dallas in 2011.
The Warriors have finished 11 games behind Phoenix in the Pacific Division this season.
Boston could keep the winning streak alive. The Celtics won the Atlantic Division title.
NBA Originals
The Warriors (then from Philadelphia) and the Celtics are two of the league’s original franchises, making this clash a worthy conclusion to the league’s 75th anniversary season.
The Warriors won their first league title, beating the Chicago Stags in five games for the first title, awarded by the Basketball Association of America. The BAA was renamed the NBA after three seasons.
fathers and sons
If Golden State wins that NBA title, the Payton family will receive another ring and join a very small club.
Gary Payton won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006; His son Gary Payton II plays for the Warriors, who are four wins from the title this season.
Other father-son duets who have won as players, according to the NBA: Mychal Thompson and Klay Thompson of the Warriors; Bill Walton and Luke Walton; Rick Barry and Brent Barry; and Matt Guokas Sr. and Matt Guokas Jr.
Stay tuned to ABC7, your home to the NBA Finals, for the latest on the Golden State Warriors quest to become NBA champions again.
RELATED STORIES AND VIDEOS
If you use the ABC7 News app, Click here to watch live
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
