Warriors return, honor ‘Brate’ and get a win

The questionable became the memorable.

The Warriors provided an emphatic answer to how they might respond after a period when mourning replaced practice, depression replaced basketball. 

Their beloved assistant coach, Dejan Milanović, died after suffering a heart attack eight days ago. Two games were postponed, and head coach Steve Kerr was uncertain how his team would react when it returned to the court. He found out quickly enough Wednesday night. 

We found out. 

The Warriors’ week started fast and barely stopped, defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 134-112 at Chase Center before a crowd that came to honor the return and stayed to celebrate the victory.

Pre-game was both somber and gratifying, with some tears supplanted by many cheers. Both teams grouped as tributes were read. The  Sero-Croatian and U.S. national anthems were played over the public address system.

Warriors players and others in the building wore black T-shirts with “Brate” printed on the back—Serbo-Croatian for brother, and what the 36-year-old-old Milanović seemed to call everyone.

On the front of the shirts was the outline of a heart, enclosing the initials “DM”.

What the Warriors wrapped themselves around was the type of shooting and defense that had a hint of those championship seasons from decades past.

Steph Curry scored 25 points, Jonathan Kuminga 25—he was a perfect 11 for 11 from the floor—and Klay Thompson had 24. Draymond Green rebounded, defended and passed as he once did and still does. It was a reassuring triumph for a team uncertain of its future.

“It was tough going out there,” said Curry, referring to the gloom and uncertainty of the previous week. “We had to make decisions.”

Maybe both about returning to the game they felt compelled to put aside as they attempted to deal with the tragedy and the style of basketball. Suddenly their lives had changed. 

Curry was enthused by Kuminga’s improved play, “He’s so talented,” said Steph, a man who well knows talent.

When Curry hit his first field goal of the night, he pointed to the sky, well, the Chase Arena roof. It was a gesture of defiance as much as glee. Steph was back. The Warriors were back. 

Now let’s go play the game as aggressively and as well as possible. Brate, or “Deki,” wouldn’t accept anything else.