From Newbie to Fan: How Expats Can Dive into the Golden State Warriors' Basketball Scene
Following the Golden State Warriors isn't just about basketball—it's your gateway to understanding American culture and connecting with locals in California.
I was not a sports person before America — I have written about that whole bewildering discovery in another post. But the short version is: I moved to the Bay Area, and through sheer cultural osmosis, found myself yelling at a television because Stephen Curry missed a three-pointer. The Warriors are not optional if you live here. They are part of the social fabric, and at some point, I stopped resisting and bought a jersey. :D
A Quick History (For Fellow Newbies)
The Warriors were founded in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors — yes, they were originally from Philadelphia, not California. They moved west in 1962 and became the Golden State Warriors. For decades, they were kind of mediocre (from what I have been told by long-suffering fans). Then, in the 2010s, everything changed.
The Players Who Got Me Hooked
Legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry built the foundation, but the recent era is what captured me.
The "Splash Brothers" — Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — are the reason I started watching. Steph Curry, in particular, is mesmerizing. The way he shoots three-pointers from distances that seem physically unreasonable... I have watched him enough now to understand that what he does is genuinely extraordinary. I think he might be the most entertaining athlete I have ever watched in any sport.
As an expat, knowing a few player names and their stories is genuinely useful. I cannot tell you how many conversations have started with "Did you see Steph last night?" Having an answer to that question is an instant social connector. (Even a simple "That three-pointer was insane" works wonders.)
Chase Center: The Experience
The Warriors used to play at Oracle Arena in Oakland, which was famous for being incredibly loud. In 2019, they moved to the Chase Center in San Francisco — a beautiful, state-of-the-art arena right on the waterfront.
I have been to a game at Chase Center, and I have to admit, the atmosphere is something else. The energy of 18,000 people reacting to a play in real time is visceral in a way that watching on TV cannot replicate. It is not cheap — tickets for good seats can be eye-watering — but if you can swing it at least once, I think it is worth the experience. Even Sophie got into it, and she normally has the attention span of a goldfish for anything that is not her iPad.
More Than Basketball
One thing I did not expect is how much the Warriors organization gives back to the community. The Warriors Community Foundation supports education and youth development in the Bay Area. As an expat who is trying to put down roots here, knowing that the team I am supporting also supports the community where I live... that matters to me. It is a small thing, but it makes the fandom feel less frivolous.
Rivalries (Where It Gets Fun)
The Warriors' biggest rivalries are with the Cleveland Cavaliers (from the epic Finals matchups of the 2010s) and the Los Angeles Lakers (because Northern California and Southern California have a rivalry about basically everything).
I have learned that talking trash about the Lakers is an excellent way to bond with Bay Area locals. "LeBron is great, BUT..." followed by literally anything about Curry being better will earn you friends in any San Francisco bar. From my experience, sports rivalries are one of the most harmless and enjoyable forms of tribalism in American life. :P
Here are the highlights from the Warriors vs. Lakers game on May 6, 2023 — this was a great one:
How Following the Warriors Changed My Expat Life
I am not being dramatic when I say this: following the Warriors has been one of the best things for my social life in America. It gave me something to talk about with coworkers, neighbors, and random strangers. It gave me a reason to go to bars and watch parties. It gave me a sense of belonging to the Bay Area that goes beyond just living here.
In Singapore, I belonged through work and the expat community. Here, I belong partly through a basketball team. I think that is beautiful, in a weird way.
Are you following any local sports team in your new city? If not, I really encourage you to give it a try. You might surprise yourself.
Cheers,
Chandler
