Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry autographing a jersey for a fan. Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Suns mock 'bandwagoner' Warriors fans after NBA schedule release

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Aug 16, 2024 9:22 AM ET

'Where did all these Warriors fans come from?' was a question that many wondered when Stephen Curry and Co. began their dynastic run in 2015. Almost overnight, it seemed like Golden State's fanbase had grown exponentially, leading many to believe that supporters of other California-based franchises — mainly the Kings and Clippers — had jumped ship.

On Thursday, the Suns found the perfect opportunity to take a shot at "bandwagoner" Warriors fans by posting a picture of a rock band and a wagon next to each other. The photo was part of a thread on X meant to describe the 29 fanbases the Suns will face in the upcoming NBA season.

pic.twitter.com/leFYwbRlkZ
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 15, 2024

While it's fair to suggest the Warriors attracted plenty of new supporters over the past decade, many of the franchise's loyal fans dislike being labeled bandwagoners. Many of them stuck with the franchise through trying times and earned the reputation of being the loudest fanbase in the NBA, which is why the Oracle Arena — the former home of the Warriors — earned the nickname "Roaracle" in the early 2010s.

That said, it's the least surprising for the Suns to fire early shots at the Warriors. The division rivals have developed a heated rivalry in recent years, with tensions reaching a boiling point last season when Draymond Green struck Jusuf Nurkic in the face. The two players continued to exchange shots at each other at every turn, and now, it appears the Suns' social media team wants in on the action.

The Suns will host the Warriors on Nov. 30 in their first matchup of the 2024-25 season. While the Suns suffered a first-round sweep against the Timberwolves in the playoffs last season, the Warriors failed to make the postseason after losing to the Kings in the play-in tournament.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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