Arizona’s basketball program was part of the basketball world spotlight last night although the Wildcats’ season ended three months ago.
The exposure once again of Steve Kerr, Andre Iguodala and Bruce Fraser winning another NBA title with the Golden State Warriors serves as a valuable marketing tool for the program.
Cleveland’s Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson and Derrick Williams were also former Wildcats who were part of the Finals.
Iguodala joins Kerr, Jud Buechler and Luke Walton as multiple champions from Arizona as players in the NBA.
Kerr won five titles as a player with the Bulls and Spurs, Buechler won three with the Bulls, Walton won two with the Lakers and Iguodala now has two with the Warriors.
NBA Championships
1996 Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler (Chicago)
1997 Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler, Brian Williams (Chicago)
1998 Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler (Chicago)
1999 Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott (San Antonio)
2003 Steve Kerr (San Antonio)
2009 Luke Walton (LA Lakers)
2010 Luke Walton (LA Lakers)
2011 Jason Terry (Dallas)
2015 Andre Iguodala, Steve Kerr*, Luke Walton*, Bruce Fraser* (Golden State)
2016 Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson, Brett Brielmaier* (Cleveland)
2017 Andre Iguodala, Steve Kerr*, Bruce Fraser*
*Indicates member of coaching staff
Here are some social media reactions of the Warriors’ title involving Kerr, Iguodala and Fraser:
Lute Olson and his Arizona legacy leaves another imprint on the NBA
Congratulations to the @warriors and former Arizona players Coach Kerr, Coach Fraser, and Andre Iguodala on the NBA Championship 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/rQwK008POY
— ZonaZoo (@ZonaZooOfficial) June 13, 2017
More historic achievements by Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr: 4th coach in NBA history to win multiple NBA titles within first 3 seasons of coaching (Phil Jackson, Bill Russell, John Kundla) pic.twitter.com/IqYaauKOZp
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2017
Won Multiple Championships As Player and Coach –
NBA HistoryBill Russell (2 as player-coach)
K.C. Jones
Tom Heinsohn
Steve Kerr pic.twitter.com/HAFWM70TKT— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2017
Bruce Fraser has become to Kerr what Jim Rosborough was to Lute Olson in coaching. Fraser and Kerr longtime friends from when they played together at Arizona.
Kevin Durant shares a moment with the man they call Q, Bruce Fraser. #DubNation (via @BontaHill) pic.twitter.com/w9yJmzXKoF
— 95.7 Dubs Radio (@957thegame) June 13, 2017
Either way, Arizona was going to get three additional championship rings.
Congrats to @warriors and #APlayersProgram alums Steve Kerr, Andre Iguodala & Bruce Fraser on earning NBA rings 21, 22 & 23 in UA History. pic.twitter.com/aBD71DoakH
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) June 13, 2017
Kerr has been through a lot this season, having missed playoff games because of his health condition related to his back, which made many fear for his future in coaching.
This makes it worth it. pic.twitter.com/BtkZQU8LoJ
— ESPN (@espn) June 13, 2017
Steve Kerr crying. That man has been through Hell. Warriors don't have 2 rings without him. Special man right there pic.twitter.com/tU4xHhQGNf
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) June 13, 2017
Steve Kerr explained why this championship brought out more emotion than expected pic.twitter.com/e3rFiOPgga
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 13, 2017
“(Winning) never gets old but tonight was a little different based on the things I had to go through during this time.” — Kerr
So very excited for this @UofA couple @SteveKerr and @margskerr. A special pair who has supported each other for years! #BearDown4Life pic.twitter.com/3PP4bWLXpn
— Phoebe C. Wadsworth (@Dr_Chalk) June 13, 2017
Some love from former Arizona players and teammates of Kerr’s
So happy for Steve Kerr. Toughest guy in the NBA the last couple years. Also the best coach, funniest and most humble. Pretty good combo
— matt muehlebach (@mattmuehlebach) June 13, 2017
Congrats to @SteveKerr and the @warriors on winning another @nba championship. Impressive run!
— David Robinson (@DavidtheAdmiral) June 13, 2017
“We had very little talent … it was mostly coaching.” — Kerr, as humorous as ever
Steve Kerr is the perfect mix of humor and humility and deserves as much praise as possible. pic.twitter.com/sGMFPFeVas
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) June 13, 2017
“What a run it’s been for the last few years and hopefully we can keep it going.” — Kerr
"It feels great because it took a lot of resilience to get over Game 7 last year, the heart break after that amazing season." – Steve Kerr pic.twitter.com/9vBpJ5EZZy
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 13, 2017
The full Kerr press conference after last night’s game.
.@warriors on #Periscope: LIVE: Postgame Press Conference with Coach Steve Kerr. More postgame coverage airing now … https://t.co/hPCs8578WM
— Darlene M Johnson (@MsBrownEyez25) June 13, 2017
Another solid NBA Finals appearance for the ageless Iguodala
The Big Four get all the headlines, but Andre Iguodala had the best plus-minus of any Warrior in the Finals (+60) pic.twitter.com/Jjnc48Iigo
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2017
No blocked shot this time for LeBron
Andre Iguodala with the big smash with LeBron getting out of the way. pic.twitter.com/kbIa84R46c
— RealGM (@RealGM) June 13, 2017
Andre Iguodala made sure LeBron wasn't going to block that 😱 pic.twitter.com/GxcG9TdZ1y
— SB Nation (@SBNation) June 13, 2017
NBA champion times two
2017 NBA Champion, @Andre of the @Warriors!
🏆🏆#NBAFinals#DubNation#ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/gIPZhZeUAa
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2017
That many points off the bench in the Warriors’ most pivotal game of the season says a lot about Iguodala.
2015 #NBAFinals MVP Andre Iguodala has 18 points off the bench! @warriors lead @cavs 112-102 in Game 5. #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/PikXMDsH1G
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2017
Andre Iguodala has scored a 2017 postseason-high 18 points.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) June 13, 2017
KD finds @andre on ABC. #StrengthInNumbers #DubNation #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/OitnAMu8KF
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) June 13, 2017
Stephen Curry highly respects Fraser with his shooting coaching and that says it all
.@warriors assistant coach Bruce Fraser talked Steph Curry, Kevin Durant & more with @3DTV in an all new Shooter's Paradise! 👌💦#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/S6VR385Bb4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 13, 2017
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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