Golden State Warriors Rally Behind Hockey Star Macklin Celebrini
SAN FRANCISCO - As the Golden State Warriors gathered for their Friday morning film session, their attention was split between preparing for Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets and an Olympic hockey showdown taking place thousands of miles away in Italy. The Warriors were glued to the action as Macklin Celebrini, a member of their extended family, battled it out on the ice for Team Canada.
“We had half the team watching the final two minutes of the game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared after Saturday’s practice. “It was 2-2, and we were supposed to start film, but nope, we had to see what happened.”
The Warriors’ connection to Celebrini goes beyond just fandom. Macklin is the son of Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ vice president of player health and performance, who has been with the team since 2018.
Rick, after attending to Jimmy Butler’s ACL surgery in Los Angeles, flew to Milan to support his son in person. Meanwhile, the Warriors are cheering on Macklin from afar.
“Everybody’s engaged,” Kerr noted, “especially those who know Rick and Macklin well. It’s amazing to see the pride in Rick’s eyes and hear it in his voice.”
This sentiment resonates throughout the Warriors’ organization. Swingman Moses Moody, who rehabbed injuries alongside Macklin under Rick’s guidance, expressed admiration for the family’s demeanor. Moody is especially impressed with Macklin’s younger brother, RJ, an emerging hockey talent himself.
“I want Rick to come back in a good mood,” Moody said with a grin.
Moody and his teammates appreciate Macklin’s quiet confidence, a trait that seems to run in the family. “Mac’s a thinker, more than a talker,” Moody observed. “He’s precise and doesn’t overdo it.”
Though Kerr admits he’s not a hockey expert, he sees a steadiness in Macklin’s game that reminds him of Stephen Curry. “Macklin has incredible talent and leadership,” Kerr said.
“He gets it at 19. It’s not just talent - it’s the intangibles, and Macklin seems to have them.”
Kerr and the Warriors take pride in seeing Rick and the Celebrini family celebrate Macklin’s achievements. Gary Payton II has sported Macklin’s Sharks jersey post-game, and Draymond Green has attended some of Macklin’s matches. The camaraderie is palpable.
“It’s fun seeing Rick and the family in the stands,” Kerr said. “At 19, Macklin is trusted in critical moments. It’s remarkable.”
With a playful jab, Kerr teased Rick about his parenting. “Thank God for Robyn,” he quipped, crediting Macklin’s mother for the family’s success.
Kerr fondly recalled watching Robyn play two-on-two basketball with her sons at the Warriors’ old practice facility, a testament to the family’s athletic prowess.
As the gold-medal game looms at 5 a.m. PT, Kerr joked about recording it to watch before the Warriors’ game. But Payton plans to watch live, eager to see Macklin chase his Olympic dream.
“It’s unreal,” Payton said. “I feel like Macklin’s going to be up there with the greats like Gretzky and Crosby. It’s exciting to see his journey, and I’m rooting for him all the way.”