OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 16: Baron Davis #5 of the Golden State Warriors smiles during a game against the Sacramento Kings on November 16, 2006 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Steph Curry honored Warriors legend Baron Davis with a pregame slam.
Younger generations of NBA fans may not remember a time when the Golden State Warriors were lovable underdogs. The peak of that came back during the 2006-07 season when Baron Davis was getting fans off their feet well before the days of Stephen Curry doing the same.
The No. 8-seeded Warriors took down the No. 1-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA Playoffs and had a matchup with the Utah Jazz in the next round. The Jazz jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, but the Warriors got their lone win that series at home in a deafening Oracle Arena.
That blowout Warriors victory featured a legendary moment in franchise history that saw Davis throw down a huge slam over Andrei Kirilenko. Curry decided to imitate that moment with the dunk and full celebration. The side-by-side shot is too perfect.
Curry honors Davis
Seeing Curry dunk at all is a rare sight, so it is great when he can do that and honor a franchise great at the same time. Davis’ dunk gave life to the Warriors and those who saw it will never forget the moment.
Curry joined the Warriors during the 2009-10 season. Since then the team has five NBA Finals appearances and three titles to its name. Davis’ Warriors were just happy to get into the postseason and end a playoff drought that lasted well over a decade.
The modern-day Warriors are an NBA powerhouse and one of the only true dynasties we have seen this era. But the history of the franchise lives on and it is fun to see two different eras of Warriors basketball collide with something as simple as a dunk and a celebration involving some abs.