SAN FRANCISCO – Gary Payton II normally concludes his Warriors press conferences by saying “you guys are nice” to the assembled media.
However following Friday morning’s apply, the jovial wing regarded straight into the rolling digicam and gave a transparent order to your complete area.
“Go watch Mack, alright?” Payton declared. “Everyone, get up within the Bay, and watch Mack.”
Lower than 24 hours earlier than the 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini leads Canada into an 5 a.m. PST Olympic Gold medal match with the USA in Italy, Payton predicted that those that awakened for the early puck drop would get pleasure from watching one of many sport’s all-time greats.
“That child’s simply unreal, and I really feel like he finish’s up being a kind of. , when it’s all stated and achieved, will probably be like Wayne (Gretzky), Sid (Crosby), Alex (Ovechkin), Mac,” Payton II stated.
Members of each the Warriors teaching workers and roster couldn’t wait to share tales concerning the hockey child who grew up across the basketball franchise earlier than being chosen No. 1 general by the native San Jose Sharks in 2024.
Celebrini’s father Rick, Golden State’s vp of participant well being and drugs, has been with the Warriors since 2018. It appeared as if everybody who has been related to the group had good recollections of younger Macklin.
Coach Steve Kerr recalled watching Celebrini play in fullcourt pickup video games towards mom Robyn and older brother Aiden and youthful sister Charlie on the staff’s previous Oakland facility.
“It’s one of many enjoyable elements of the job, seeing the households be part of it,” Kerr stated. “One in every of my nice recollections of my taking part in profession was when my children had been capable of be concerned.”
Watching Macklin star in-person for Canada has been Rick and your complete household, however the Warriors have been supporting him stateside too.
“Yesterday on the movie session, we had half the staff watching the ultimate two minutes of the sport as a result of it was 2-2,” Kerr stated. “Though it was 10 o’clock and we’re purported to be beginning movie, it was like ‘Nope we’re gonna watch to see what occurs.’ Everyone is engaged, particularly the blokes who’ve been right here for some time and who know Rick so properly.”
Moses Moody went for a extra humorous method when remembering Macklin’s time round Golden State.
He referenced a well-liked on-line meme about LeBron James predicting somebody’s unbelievable future success, earlier than saying that the great hockey genes didn’t cease with Macklin.
“The youngest brother (RJ), I talked to him for some time and he actually does have this silent confidence and competitiveness and composure,” Moody stated. “I’m actually saying it beforehand with this one, that he’s acquired that look in his eye.”
Celebrini’s rise to stardom has been meteoric since departing the Bay Space for one season at Boston College as a 17-year-old.
After a stellar rookie season, Celebrini has grow to be among the best gamers on the earth in his second go-around. He has 81 factors (28 targets, 53 assists) in 55 video games, and has even been within the dialog for the Hart Trophy (the NHL’s model of the MVP award) for a thrilling and resurgent Sharks staff that’s 27-24-4.
Now, he’s main Canada towards the USA. However will the Warriors’ private reference to Macklin be sufficient to have their American gamers pulling for Canada? Moody wouldn’t go that far..
“That’s an excellent query,” Moody stated whereas shrugging.
