The Golden State Warriors had to alter their pregame routine a bit in the Western Conference Finals with Kevin Durant sidelined due to a calf injury, and one lucky reporter may get free airfare to the NBA Finals because of how well it worked out on Monday.
Before they take the floor, the Warriors typically gather around Durant to get amped up. Since Durant has been out, they have replaced K.D. with inanimate objects like a mop and a ball. But for Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Stephen Curry decided to grab Geoffrey C. Arnold of The Oregonian and pull him into the huddle.
The Warriors usually circle around KD for the pregame huddle. With him out, they improvise. Curry has used a mop, a ball, and now a random stadium employee. pic.twitter.com/U0Z4QHAkSH
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) May 21, 2019
The Warriors went on to win 119-117 in overtime to complete their sweep of Portland. When Arnold went to ask Draymond Green a question after the game, Green made it clear he felt Arnold played a big role in the win. The two then had an entertaining exchange that ended with Green offering to pay for Arnold’s airfare to the NBA Finals.
Draymond Green is buying that reporter from the huddle a plane ticket to the Finals ???? pic.twitter.com/005TkDlKkk
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) May 21, 2019
Green has had some issues with members of the media in the past, but he seems ready to follow through on that promise. It’s unclear when Durant will be back, so the Warriors may need a consistent presence in their pregame huddle. Arnold could be that guy.
