Come for the practice, stay for the fun with rookies. More than 7,000 fans attended Warriors Open Practice at Oracle Arena tonight, and each one of them witnessed quite the performance from a Warriors rookie foursome.
What started out as a normal practice – as normal as it can be with a crowd filling up the lower level, team introductions and a mic’d up coach – quickly turned into a experience that was just as much talent show as it was a basketball practice.
On the eve of the team’s preseason finale, Head Coach Steve Kerr told the crowd to expect a light practice. And for the first hour of the workout, that’s exactly what it was. Team stretching and drills up-and-down the court closely resembled the typical practice the team would normally go through.
But then Coach Kerr had his players go to the crowd to get volunteers for some on-court competitions. After several shooting contests and more fun with all those in attendance, it was time for one of the most bizarre traditions in professional sports – the rookie “talent” show. Aaron Craft, James Michael McAdoo, Mitchell Watt and Sean Kilpatrick – all in their first NBA training camp – were tasked with singing a song in front of the largest Open Practice crowd in Warriors history. And if that wasn’t enough, they had to do so in full costume.
Relive all of the fun that was Warriors Open Practice in the video and social media posts below.