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Like any other major sport, basketball rivalries can ignite an extraordinary intensity, especially when cities with historic animosity are involved.
For former NBA star Baron Davis, a Los Angeles native, this dynamic made his initial trade to the Golden State Warriors far from appealing. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, a neighborhood often defined by its challenges but rich in cultural resilience.
"B-Diddy" was skeptical at first
Like many athletes who grew up in Southern California, the former point guard was aware of the long-standing rivalry between Los Angeles and Northern California—not just in basketball but across all major sports.
Take the Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers battles of the early 2000s as a prime example. The rivalry peaked during the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, which many still debate as one of the most heated and controversial series in NBA history.
This seven-game showdown highlighted a fierce rivalry between the defending champion Lakers, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and a talented Kings squad anchored by Chris Webber and Mike Bibby.
The controversy stemmed from Game 6, where officiating was heavily criticized for favoring the Lakers, who shot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter alone. This prompted allegations of bias and even speculation of manipulation to extend the series. The Lakers won Game 6 and ultimately secured the series in Game 7, advancing to win the NBA Finals.
To this day, the series is debated as a pivotal moment in history. It raised questions about integrity in high-stakes games and cements the Lakers-Kings rivalry as one of the league's most dramatic.
The 2002 Lakers-Kings conspiracy theory is still alive and well.@jessica_smetana decided to take a closer look at the infamous series. ️♀️ pic.twitter.com/rnftop3ZLS
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 29, 2018
That animosity trickled to fans, creating a cultural divide between Northern and Southern California sports enthusiasts.
When Davis was traded from the New Orleans Hornets to Golden State in 2005, his initial reaction was less than enthusiastic, and the retired guard candidly recalled his feelings.
"Sac got their own little hate towards LA, and that's just basketball," Davis said. "And I'm talking about, like, football and all the major sports. And so I was like, 'Hell nah, I don't want to go to Golden State. Trade me anywhere, don't trade me to the Bay. They're going to kill me."
Embracing the city
Despite his initial hesitation, the former star quickly adapted to life in Oakland. The city, known for its passionate sports culture and blue-collar grit, embraced him almost immediately. It didn't take long for Davis to realize that the Bay Area wasn't what he had imagined.
"When I got up to the Bay, everybody I met was my best friend… like it's just the stereotype… Then going to hoop for the Warriors, man, it was packed out there, and it started to feel like a home away from home out there," Davis said.
It wasn't just his off-court experience that endeared him to the fanbase. The two-time All-Star became the centerpiece of the iconic "We Believe" Warriors, a team that shocked the basketball world during the 2007 NBA Playoffs. As the eighth seed, the Dubs pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in six games during the first round.
On this day in 2007, the No. 8 seed "We Believe" Warriors beat the No. 1 Mavericks.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 3, 2019
Greatest upset in NBA history? pic.twitter.com/AmbuLKPd4D
The point guard's performances during that series were electrifying, from his leadership on the court to his jaw-dropping dunk over Andrei Kirilenko in the following round against the Utah Jazz. Though the Warriors didn't advance past the semifinals, the California native had cemented his place as a Bay Area legend for good.
More must-reads:
- Pelicans pulling off four-player trade that also involves multiple draft picks
- March Madness star linked to retooling East squad
- The 'NBA Finals MVPs' quiz
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