The Golden State Warriors celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1975 NBA championship on Friday night at Chase Center during the team’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, welcoming back a host of franchise legends for an in‑arena ceremony and media availability that revisited one of basketball’s great underdog stories.
The organization billed the evening as a comprehensive tribute, with video features, on‑court recognition and a pregame autograph session, marking half a century since the Warriors swept the favored Washington Bullets to capture the club’s first West Coast title.
All living members of the 1974–75 champions were scheduled to attend, including Hall of Famers Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes, along with Butch Beard, Charles Dudley, George Johnson, Jeff Mullins and Clifford Ray. The late Alvin Attles, the team’s head coach during the title run, was represented by his son, Alvin Jr., as the franchise honored Attles’ stewardship of a group that stunned the league with its cohesion and belief. The legends greeted fans inside the arena’s team store from 5:50 to 6:25 p.m. before taking part in the on‑court festivities and media sessions that framed the evening’s reflections.
The ceremony underscored the enduring resonance of the 1975 upset, with Barry characterizing the achievement in sweeping terms.
“Biggest Finals upset in the history of major sports in the United States,” he said,
contextualizing the Warriors’ triumph as not merely improbable but singular among iconic championship shocks.
The remarks capped pregame coverage that featured interviews with team members on the anniversary and highlighted how a roster built on unselfishness and timely shot‑making toppled a heavyweight favorite.
I’m always here for some great Rick Barry banter! 🙌❤️#Warriors #1975Champions pic.twitter.com/5vIexgAmMg
— Len Werle (@RealLennyCarlos) November 22, 2025
Segments aired locally revisited the team’s journey, drawing out memories of pivotal moments and the locker‑room culture that powered the run.
Friday’s program doubled as a bridge to a forthcoming documentary about the 1975 title, an effort the participants hope will add depth and clarity to how the Warriors engineered the sweep and why it has endured as a touchstone of competitive audacity. The project, discussed around the anniversary events, aims to illuminate the context and personalities behind the upset, bringing new audiences into the story five decades later.
