The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 603 - 295: Collision of Eras

As a continuation of last year’s championship finals, the League had also scheduled the Riders and Warriors Battle as the season opener.

Promotion for this game started early.

Although the League was still the Nike Alliance, Silva hoped that UA would continue to grow stronger.

This season also had a significant sensitive issue: Adidas’s jersey sponsorship agreement with the League was expiring at the end of the season.

Had it not been for the rise of UA, Nike would have long ago become the new jersey sponsor, but now, this position depended on this season’s results.

With the League’s publicity machines at full tilt, many news stories about the opener were released in quick succession.

The Warriors had received bad news before the start of the season, and it wasn’t from a player, but the coach.

The Warriors’ head coach, Cole, had undergone back surgery during the off-season. He did not follow his former teammate Rodman’s example of getting surgery before the season started, but complications from the surgery meant he, like Rodman, would miss at least two to three months.

The coaching duties for the Warriors were taken over by the team’s lead assistant, not Gentry, who had built his reputation with the Warriors last season and had already taken up a head coaching position with the Pelicans this season; the first assistant now was former Lakers standout and last season’s second assistant, Luke Walton.

But did that matter?

Apparently not, because Cole brought to the Warriors a philosophy of play, not coaching prowess.

The current Warriors system was mature, and even a dog could manage the coach’s seat.

More intriguing to the outside world than Cole’s absence, however, was what Green said during a media day interview.

Previously overshadowed by Kobe’s retirement announcement, Green’s comments resurfaced when the opener arrived.

"You all talk about Hansen being the best player, but we defeated them. So Stephen is the best player, and his performance in this year’s training camp is astounding. He will be the best player of the new season."

Though Thompson received the finals MVP last season, Green knew better than anyone who the real cornerstone of the Warriors was; as long as he clung to that cornerstone, he wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of his life.

When the Cavaliers arrived in Oakland and finished their public training, reporters asked Hansen for his thoughts on Green’s comments.

Hansen outright bypassed that topic.

Being a figure hated by some fans only helped him automatically garner hate. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Of course, Hansen’s non-response did not mean other Cavaliers wouldn’t respond.

"That guy is just riding on someone’s coattails; without Stephen, he’s nothing," TT directly fired back.

"We are the champions, and they have achieved nothing," Green was really good at verbal sparring.

On the night of the opener, Oracle Arena was buzzing with activity.

For most fans, a championship 40 years ago was almost equivalent to none, as most NBA fans weren’t even conceived 40 years ago.

Still, to highlight this history, the Warriors made a great effort to invite fans who witnessed their championship victory back then, providing them with commemorative Warriors T-shirts.

Most of them were already in their seventies or eighties, the youngest being 58, not necessarily still possessing their original passion, but with added compensation, they were still capable of feeling passionate.

In short, the Warriors had created a perfect atmosphere for the award ceremony.

The market value of the Warriors could only continue to rise, not just because of Curry, but because the team management was also excellent.

And their owner was willing to invest heavily.

According to pre-game news reports, this time the Warriors’ championship rings were designed by renowned jewelry designer Jason Alasheben, with each ring costing an astounding one million US dollars!

Normally, a standard championship ring, like the one Hansen previously received with the Grizzlies, was worth tens of thousands of dollars; this was more than ten times that amount, unprecedented, and likely unmatched in the future.

However, Hansen felt that this one million might be somewhat exaggerated, like claiming $800,000 went to design fees since a ring that size, even if completely encrusted with diamonds, couldn’t be worth that much.

Before the warm-up began, a ceremony was held to present the championship rings, and more than twenty rings were placed at the center stage.

Under the spotlight, they were dazzling to behold.

Hansen also saw that legendary million-dollar ring.

It truly was filled with diamonds!

Being backed by the Bay Area is a great advantage, having money to spend lavishly.

And this was the best form of publicity, showing all fans the management’s willingness to invest in the team, which spurred high enthusiasm among the fans.

It made one wonder what Gilbert would do to show his sincerity on the day the Cavaliers would truly win a championship.

Warriors players began to receive their individual rings.

Curry, while receiving his ring, also showcased the details to the camera.

The classic Warriors logo, the Oakland Bay Bridge, the bridge was gold-colored, but the filling in the cable sections was sapphire, and next to the bridge was the number "30" – Curry’s jersey number.

When these details were displayed on the LED large screen, they elicited loud cheers from the Warriors fans at the scene.

Of course, they also filled the Cavaliers players with envy.

Apart from Hansen and Garnett, the rest of the team were still without championship titles.

After the opening ceremony, both teams’ starting line-ups were announced.

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