The Golden State Warriors are opening a new chapter in their history with the unveiling of the Chase Center this week. The arena will have its grand opening on September 6, and the Warriors will play their first preseason game at the Chase Center against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5.
Ribbon is cut & we are home.#DubNation || @ChaseCenter pic.twitter.com/qEVHc757q8
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 3, 2019
It is also a new era in the life of Zaza Pachulia, who played for the Warriors from 2016 to 2018 and won two titles with Golden State. The Georgian center returned to the team as a consultant, the Warriors announced last week. In his new role, Pachulia, who played in the NBA for 16 years, will serve in both the basketball and business sides of the organization, helping the Warriors with community events.
Zaza Pachulia will rejoin the Warriors organization as a consultant, team says. Mike Dunleavy has been elevated to assistant GM.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) August 29, 2019
“It’s great to be back,” Pachulia said. “So many familiar faces. … Today’s my first day in the office in my new job, so I’m very excited.”
Golden State has eight new players on the roster, and they will have to play half of the upcoming season without Klay Thompson, who tore his ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Even so, Pachulia thinks the Warriors will be contenders in the 2019-20 campaign.
“I was taking a tour around the Chase Center the other day and went to the locker room and there are a lot of younger guys … and a perfect opportunity for them to prove … to show themselves,” Pachulia said. “It’s going to be an interesting year. They have a great coaching staff — one of the best in the business — and I’m sure coach [Steve] Kerr will use those players in the right way.”
Also, Zaza believes that Thompson will return to his best when he recovers from a lengthy injury.
“I know he’s in good spirits,” Pachulia said. “He’s enjoying his time. I’m sure he’s feeling better because I saw his dance moves at the [Chicago Cubs] game.”
