The Golden State Warriors have seen significant success over the past few years headlined by their veteran mainstays in Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Unknown to many, their great chemistry on the floor was formed due to regular poker games on the plane whenever they are on the road throughout the years.
Their favorite pastime also caught the eye of Warriors assistant coach Bruce Fraser who shared that the players' joyous bond became infectious for everyone within the organization.
“When you have that kind of chemistry, camaraderie, sort of enjoying the whole process, that really helps set the tone for the culture,” Fraser said via ChicoER. “It doesn’t just set the tone for the plane.”
Former Warriors player and current team executive Shaun Livingston shared that having chemistry off the court is crucial for the team to attain success on the court.
“Those games, whether it’s poker or Bourré, it brings guys closer together,” Livingston said. “It’s the team building, it’s the camaraderie. You’re building that chemistry off the court which carries onto the court.”
He also mentioned that Curry and Green's different attitudes compliment each other perfectly which has been key for the Warriors' success in recent seasons.
“We always used to say it would be a lot harder to have a team full of Draymonds or a team full of Stephs,” Livingston added. “You have that fire and ice. Both of those are needed in order to help the group become who they can become.”
The Warriors recently underwent a major facelift and welcomed new faces on the team, with Klay Thompson still remaining on the sidelines due to an injury.
As veterans on the team, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are both expected to lead a young Warriors squad and their great bond formed over poker will hopefully sustain them for the long season ahead.
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