Alfreda Lyons-Campbell and the Sangin Saints perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a game between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2023. Courtesy Golden State Warriors.
SAN FRANCISCO — Few sports fuse music and athleticism quite like basketball. Sure, many stadiums blast high-octane dance, hip-hip or hard rock during breaks in the action, but only basketball seamlessly weaves the beats and sounds into the flow of play.
Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors during player introductions. Photo: NBAE via Getty Images.
The Golden State Warriors are taking on the Portland Trail Blazers in a matchup at Chase Center, with both teams making a push for the postseason. It’s not a typical Monday night, with the Blazers’ Damian Lillard, one of the game’s biggest stars, coming off a 71-point performance
The players on the court feed the energy of the crowd, but the music is the vehicle by which that very energy is transferred. It starts from shootaround, with some Warriors players opting to run drills with the coaching staff while other simply put on their Beats headphones and take their warmups. Who’s to say what’s playing in the ear phones, but whatever it is, it sets the mental tone for the player that night.
Diamano Coura West African Dance Company.
For those not opting for headphones, DJ D Sharp is posted up courtside, spinning hip-hop hits old and new to help the players find their rhythm. Once the game starts, D Sharp will take his post at a position higher up in the arena. For now he’s right in the action. The lights dim for player introductions. Music blasts as pyrotechnics shoot into the air.
It’s a slow start for the home team, going down to a big deficit early. The energy in the arena is still buzzing, but with a general sentiment that this might not be Golden State’s night, Lillard is on track for another 40 to 50 point night, seemingly making buckets at will.
Through it all, the music helps to lead the way. When the Warriors get an offensive possession, D Sharp goes to instrumental classic hip-hop hits from artists like Nas, 2Pac and LL Cool J. It takes the game back to the ’80s and ’90s, where street ball was so popular. The five Warriors on the court come up with their strategy to put some points on the board. When the Blazers take possession, the music shifts, often to simple pounding of the drums leading chants of “DEE-FENCE.”
The Genesis Church of Antioch choir performs “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
On this night, music takes the forefront more than usual. Tonigbht is one of the Warriors final heritage nights of the year, this one honoring African American history. The Genesis Church of Antioch choir takes the court to perform an absolutely stunning rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem. If you didn’t know better, you’d think the harmonies were being pumped over the PA system, but no, just raw harmonization at half court. Then, Bay Area gospel artist Alfreda Lyons-Campbell and the Sangin Saints deliver the “Star-Spangled Banner.” At halftime, the Pittsburg High School marching band takes the court to perform, smashing out hits by the likes of DMX, and in the second half, Oakland’s Diamano Coura West African Dance Company delivers another stellar performance. Each one showcases the diversity of the Black community.
On the court, things shift dramatically in the second half, the Dubs seemingly hitting shot after shot. Little by little, the deficit shrinks, and soon enough the Warriors are in striking distance. Through it all, the music at Chase Center stirs the capacity crowd into a frenzy. With another Klay Thompson three-pointer, Dub Nation reaches a fever pitch.
In the end, the Warriors go on to a commanding victory, moving ever closer to the postseason. Fans file out, many jubilant at the improbable comeback. The evening’s soundtrack that helped to guide the way, if only just a little.
Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.
