Rookies Steal Show At Open Practice

Established 1946 | 7-time NBA Champions

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You got to love tradition. How else can you get Festus Ezeli to sing a Backstreet Boys song a cappella in front of 5,000 fans at Oracle Arena? The Warriors held their annual Open Practice at their home court on Saturday and just as in years past, the rookies were subject to a bit of initiation. From singing solos to a special Warriors Gangnam Style performance, the rookies gave it all they had. Take a look at the video below …

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Although it was all laughs at the end of the event, there was indeed a basketball practice before the shenanigans began. Head Coach Mark Jackson greeted fans at the entrance and was then mic’d up for the practice, allowing those in attendance to hear directly from the coach in a practice setting. The team ran through drills, held an intra-squad scrimmage and even had some fan involvement in the shooting contests that concluded the basketball portion of Open Practice. The Open Practice gave fans a chance to see the team live and in person, and for free nonetheless, just 18 days away from Opening Night 2012.

Access a full photo gallery of Open Practice by clicking on the image below, and stay tuned for much more coverage of the event in the days ahead.