NBA Champions, Steve Kerr and His ‘Golden’ State Warriors Celebrate

Head Coach Steve Kerr was the seventh rookie head coach to win the NBA Title, and the first since Pat Riley in 1982. Andre’ Igoudala is the first Wildcat to earn an MVP Award in the NBA Finals.

It’s good to be a San Fransisco/Oakland fan. First the San Fransisco Giants win the MLB Pennant, and after many many years of waiting, tonight their Golden State Warriors win the NBA Finals. They waited forty years to be exact, the loyal fans..there were also plenty of band-wagoners. The Wildcat fans who did not have a team in the finals all jumped on board the Warrior band-wagon, and enjoyed themselves, they enjoyed themselves for six games!

For Arizona Wildcats fans, Andre’ Igoudala was the first Arizona Wildcat to be named NBA Finals MVP, and the first player to garner the honor without starting every game. Not a soul predicted that he would end up winning this before the series began. This means the Golden State Warriors have two MVP’s on their team. On top of that Head Coach Steve Kerr hired both Wildcat Luke Walton and Bruce Fraser to his staff, so this team has Lute Olson’s influence all over it.

Former NBA Champion Luke Walton just scored another ring! It’s got to be sweet, since he ended his career as a player in Cleveland in 2013. After his forced retirement, he did not want to stop playing, the Lakers organization gave him an opportunity to coach their D-League team and he did a great job. Perfect next step? Assist Coach Steve Kerr and a bunch of great young players try to win a championship the first year in, mission accomplished.

“The Culture from top to bottom..They won forty years through the desert ’til now, it’s a long journey but they paid it off” Peter Gruber Co-Executive Chairman

Steve Kerr on the defining characteristics of the team,”I think the sacrifice that every guy made from Andre’ and David you know stepping away from the starting line-up, to throughout the playoffs different guys stepping up and playing whatever match-up we needed. We just played and they were all in it, just to win. That’s the only thing that mattered. This is an amazing group of guys.”

Responding on who he was thinking about just then Kerr explained, “I’m thinking of Lute Olson , thinking of Phil Jackson, Lenny Wilkens, Gregg Popovich.”  When he mentioned Lute Olson first, it felt very special, especially to Wildcats fans and I’m sure it was to Lute as well.

Kerr went on, “I’ve been blessed to play for the greatest coaches ever! I’ve learned a ton from them and they helped me get here and I am just blessed with an unbelievable group of guys in my first year I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

Adam Silver stepped up to the microphone next. He was very emotional, you could hear in his voice just how happy he was in announcing and giving the MVP trophy to Andre’ Igoudala, a player that came out of the blue to most, but not Wildcats fans, we knew he was a great player because we followed his career.

More from Cats in the Pros

• From Arizona Wildcat to New York Yankee, Austin Wells gets called up
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s FIBA World Cup performance is reminiscent of Kobe Bryant’s
• Rawle Alkins a star in the Drew League this summer
• Former Wildcat Scooby Wright wins Second USFL Title
• The Edmonton Elks have re-signed former Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate

“It could have been a lot of these guys but there could only be one MVP, and this years MVP is a player who didn’t start in a single game until these finals. This years Bill Russell MVP, Andre Igoudala,”  NBA Commissioner Silver announced. Boos ensued from the Cleveland fans who I guess stayed around to see if LeBron James was going to get the MVP trophy. Oh well!

Andre took in the celebrations and cheering from his team and hug from his son, dare I say “Lil’ Iggy”? Lil Iggy had a lot to say about how his dad played, and what he has to work on, “Free throws.”

Doris Burke pointed out that Andre had started 758 straight games before this season, he was asked about how his sacrifice affected his team, his answer was a spiritual one. “We have a team full of believers, we all go to chapel before every game, we all believe and we all say God has a way for you, a purpose for you, this is my purpose and I accepted it. I got great teammates, Steph, I want to be just like Steph when I grow up.”

Asked what it’s like having his son by his side, “Man it’s so much, it’s my man and my Boo Boo Honey at home, oh man this is great. We are gonna remember this for a long time.”

Here is his post game, pre-MVP trophy presentation interview:

Time to celebrate!

Here is some extra footage, with Locker room celebrations and congrats to specific players from Coach Kerr:

Beardown Igoudala, Kerr, Walton and Fraser! Congratulations! Well deserved!

Next: Andre Igoudala wants a new Nick Name, Iggy, not his Fave, click here to vote here