After the news of the the death of pop superstar Prince was announced yesterday, the Golden State Warriors joined the nation in mourning the singer’s loss, playing his music during warm ups and taking to social media to share their grief. But the team’s connection with the musician goes deeper than just a few Tweets.
It started with forward Draymond Green, who attended a Prince concert in late February. Green bought VIP tickets, but received something even better. A handler brought Green and several others into the arena before the show was supposed to start. Apparently, Prince was “feeling it” and simply couldn’t wait to go on-stage. Green barely made it to his seat before Prince was at the piano, performing to a crowd of 3,000.
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Green told ESPN:
“It was amazing to see a performer of that level excited and anxious to perform like that. Just little subtle stuff like how he looked at the crowd when he was playing the piano to get them involved. It was incredible.”
The experience turned Green into a full-on Prince fan. He went to see him again days later at the Oracle Arena, where the Warriors typically play. In between games, the singer sat court side at a Warriors game.
“I'm thankful to see what I saw. I didn't know he would have three weeks left,” said Green.
The news came to Green and his team during a shoot around in Houston. Initially, they waved it off as a rumor, something stirred up by the internet, but then teammate Brandon Rush received a notification — it was all true.
It came as a shock. Steph Curry and Andre Iguodala immediately used an assistant coach’s cell phone to turn on “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry” on a portable speaker. Klay Thompson followed it up with a request for “Raspberry Beret.”
“We lost a legend. He seemed so young,” Thompson said.
Prince previously graced the Oracle Arena twice in March — once to perform, and once as a fan. On March 3, the entire arena was purple — purple lights, curtains, tunnels. Prince sat court side in sun glasses and holding a cane, staying quiet for most of the night as the dance team performed to “Let’s Go Crazy” and the song “Kiss” was played for the Kiss Cam. He left at the half, but not before giving out free copies of his album “HITnRUN Phase Two.”
Thompson spoke about the experience:
“It was cool. He was obviously before my time, but I appreciated how talented he was. It just sucks. Too soon. It was cool seeing him there. I did notice him, 100 percent.”
The team was later invited to the suite at Prince’s concert, where he praised the Warriors in an address to the crowd:
Only two players — Green and Iguodola — attended, and many of the Warriors regret it now. Curry had attended a Prince concert before in Oakland, and only missed this year’s show due to a prior engagement.
Curry said this week:
“He was definitely an icon. His music inspired three decades worth of music fans. This guy spoke volumes with music and the accomplishments in his career. A guy like me didn't know his story too well, but when you heard his song on the radio, you knew who it was.”
Warriors center Festus Ezeli gave his tickets to a friend, and similarly regrets missing out on one of Prince’s final performances.
“I sure do feel bad about not going,” Ezeli said. “A legend was just lost. I never was able to make it to his concerts. But his music will definitely live on forever.”
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For Green, no other celebrity meeting — including President Obama, Serena Williams and Dave Chappelle, who he met before — can compare with shaking Prince’s hand after one of his last concerts.
“He had so much swag that he didn't say too much to you,” Green said. “It was an honor just be in his presence. He was one of the greats of my parents' time. But he demands the same respect from someone my age.
“Calling Prince a singer doesn't do him justice. He was just a great entertainer. Not many entertainers could be compelling to every age. It was great to meet someone of that stature.”
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