For four decades, Golden State Warriors fans supported their team through a tragic comedy of foibles and failures that it seemed would never end. But all that loyalty finally paid off with the franchise's first NBA championship since 1975 after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
On Friday, Warriors fans, players, icons, executives and the entire Bay Area celebrated in joyous fashion with a parade and rally through downtown Oakland. Just like the dream season supporters waited so long for, the after-party didn't disappoint.
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The bash was a hit online, too, with the hashtag #WarriorsParade trending on Twitter in the United States for more than four hours.
Here are some highlights from Friday's festivities. Warriors fan or no Warriors fan -- it's impossible not to appreciate the joy and and comedy coming through.
Warriors fans -- and this traffic guard -- were ready to celebrate 45 minutes before the parade got started:
Center Andrew Bogut even shaved for the affair:
Before and after ... @andrewbogut cleaning up for the #WarriorsParade!!! pic.twitter.com/TF4jRr6wcV— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) June 19, 2015
Thousands upon thousands of fans showed up:
It’s a party in Oakland! #WarriorsParade pic.twitter.com/iFPmWhp0aP— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 19, 2015
And what's a Bay Area party without a little, um, environmental appreciation?
Warriors fans saved some of their good weed from Game 6 celebration for the parade. This is the least surprising thing about today so far.— Wendy Thurm (@hangingsliders) June 19, 2015
Oakland's favorite native son, NFL star Marshawn Lynch, joined Warriors sparkplug Draymond Green for the parade:
.@MoneyLynch x @Money23Green https://t.co/QBPiXzv7ko #WarriorsParade #TrueDetectiveSeason2— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) June 19, 2015
Green -- perhaps buzzed on slightly more than victory -- channeled his inner E-40 in an epic TV interview:
Draymond Green for governor #WarriorsParade cc @E40 pic.twitter.com/NfDcVmVCfn— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) June 19, 2015
Guard Klay Thompson reveled in the atmosphere:
Steph Curry's scene-stealing daughter Riley was there, too, being as cute as ever:
(Riley's dad, the NBA MVP, was there too)
Lynch and Green's mom, who is amazing on Twitter, shared a heart-melting moment during their own joint interview:
Draymond Green's mom x Marshawn Lynch gonna make you cry #WarriorsParade pic.twitter.com/f4C0ROQdFG— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) June 19, 2015
The Warriors have a controversial move to San Francisco planned in the next few years, and one fan made the opinion of many felt during team owner Joe Lacob's speech:
But those are worries for a different day. Friday was a celebration. Let's see that dancing crossing guard again:
Just 98 days until training camp, Warriors fans. The title defense starts in October.