Curry brothers switch numbers, rookies serenade at Warriors’ annual open practice

SAN FRANCISCO – With the backing track building toward the famous chorus of “Wonderwall,” Warriors rookie Alex Toohey rose with the crescendo-ing pop ballad, both vocally and physically. 

By the time the forward was ready to belt out “You’re my wonderwaaaaall,” he had ascended the Chase Center stairs and entered Section 21, mingling with gobsmacked fans (and at least a dozen security personnel) as Steph Curry and the rest of the Warriors vets looked on with amusement from the other side of the court. 

It was that kind of Thursday night at Chase Center, full of laughs and fan-friendly moments, with only a smattering of basketball interspersed throughout.

Curry, who had delighted fans by swapping numbers with his younger brother Seth and wearing No. 31, called the event “a vibe.”

Seth Curry, of course, wore No. 30 and knocked down dozens of shots on the court his brother has called home for years.

It was, officially, the team’s annual open practice, where tickets cost only $5 apiece and fans packed into Chase Center to watch their favorite players go through drills. 

After NBC Sports Bay Area play-by-play announcer Bob Fitzgerald peppered general manager Mike Dunleavy with questions, the real show began.

Each Warriors player, starting with Gary Payton II and ending with Taevion Kinsey, ran onto the court after being introduced by the decorated public address announcer Steve Scott.

Even the most anonymous of the players received a thunderous applause and deafening cheers from the crowd. 

Coach Steve Kerr, with the help of a microphone that piped his voice throughout the arena, explained the function of the light drills his team went through. 

Aside from Seth Curry ripping the nets with jumpers, newcomer De’Anthony Melton even ran up and down the court for a few minutes and got a couple of shots up before quietly retiring to the locker room. 

Jonathan Kuminga did not participate in the on-court activities, instead sitting with the coaches. However, he, along with his teammates, happily signed autographs when hounded by children holding out hats, cards and jerseys. 

Draymond Green and Steph Curry were given trophies commemorating their various 2024-25 awards too. 

The night concluded with the assistant coaches and rookies having to sing to the crowd. Will Richard belted out “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit, which won a Grammy a few months before the Warriors captured their first title of the Curry era in 2015.

After Toohey treated the fans to his epic rendition of “Wonderwall,” it would have been difficult to top his theatrics.

And yet, somehow, undrafted rookie LJ Cryer – in the middle of maybe the craziest 24 hours of his life – topped his fellow first-year teammate.

Cryer teamed up with fellow Houston-area native Jimmy Butler for a duet of “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey. And then, with help from the two other rookies and the crowd, sang “Happy Birthday” to himself on the day he turned 24. 

A birthday party, impromptu karaoke, an award show, and even a little basketball. 

Thursday’s open practice had it all.