Why Warriors are rooting hard for Macklin Celebrini ahead of USA-Canada Olympic gold medal match: ‘That kid’s just unreal’

SAN FRANCISCO – Gary Payton II usually concludes his Warriors press conferences by saying “you guys are great” to the assembled media. 

But following Friday morning’s practice, the jovial wing looked directly into the rolling camera and gave a clear order to the entire region. 

“Go watch Mack, alright?” Payton declared. “Everybody, wake up in the Bay, and watch Mack.”

Less than 24 hours before the 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini leads Canada into an 5 a.m. PST Olympic Gold medal match with the USA in Italy, Payton predicted that those who woke up for the early puck drop would enjoy watching one of the sport’s all-time greats.

“That kid’s just unreal, and I feel like he end’s up being one of those. You know, when it’s all said and done, it will be like Wayne (Gretzky), Sid (Crosby), Alex (Ovechkin), Mac,” Payton II said. 

Members of both the Warriors coaching staff and roster could not wait to share stories about the hockey kid who grew up around the basketball franchise before being selected No. 1 overall by the local San Jose Sharks in 2024. 

Celebrini’s father Rick, Golden State’s vice president of player health and medicine, has been with the Warriors since 2018. It seemed as if everyone who has been associated with the organization had good memories of young Macklin. 

Coach Steve Kerr recalled watching Celebrini play in fullcourt pickup games against mother Robyn and older brother Aiden and younger sister Charlie at the team’s old Oakland facility.

“It’s one of the fun parts of the job, seeing the families be a part of it,” Kerr said. “One of my great memories of my playing career was when my kids were able to be involved.”

Watching Macklin star in-person for Canada has been Rick and the entire family, but the Warriors have been supporting him stateside too. 

“Yesterday at the film session, we had half the team watching the final two minutes of the game because it was 2-2,” Kerr said. “Even though it was 10 o’clock and we’re supposed to be starting film, it was like ‘Nope we’re gonna watch to see what happens.’ Everybody is engaged, especially the guys who have been here for a while and who know Rick so well.”

Moses Moody went for a more humorous approach when remembering Macklin’s time around Golden State. 

He referenced a popular online meme about LeBron James predicting someone’s improbable future success, before saying that the good hockey genes did not stop with Macklin. 

“The youngest brother (RJ), I talked to him for a while and he really does have this silent confidence and competitiveness and composure,” Moody said. “I’m really saying it beforehand with this one, that he’s got that look in his eye.”

Celebrini’s rise to stardom has been meteoric since departing the Bay Area for one season at Boston University as a 17-year-old.

After a stellar rookie season, Celebrini has become one of the best players in the world in his second go-around. He has 81 points (28 goals, 53 assists) in 55 games, and has even been in the conversation for the Hart Trophy (the NHL’s version of the MVP award) for a exciting and resurgent Sharks team that is 27-24-4. 

Now, he is leading Canada against the USA. But will the Warriors’ personal connection with Macklin be enough to have their American players pulling for Canada? Moody would not go that far.. 

“That’s a good question,” Moody said while shrugging.