Golden State Warriors

Few NBA crests are as instantly recognisable as the Golden State Warriors’. At first glance it looks like a simple, clean image of a bridge, but behind that design is a story of California itself — its rebellious past, its engineering triumphs, and the way basketball grew to become part of its modern identity.

The Warriors were born in Philadelphia in 1946, one of the NBA’s founding teams. Their earliest badge leaned heavily on Native American imagery, reflecting the “Warrior” name, though that approach now feels outdated. In 1962 the franchise moved west to San Francisco, before settling in Oakland in 1971. That same year, they adopted the broader title of Golden State Warriors, deliberately representing not just a single city but all of California.

The name “Golden State” reaches back to the Gold Rush of 1848–49, when thousands travelled west to seek their fortunes. San Francisco was transformed almost overnight from a small settlement into a booming city. Gold, sunshine, and opportunity became California’s trademarks, and the Warriors’ name continues to echo that legacy. The same spirit of independence is found on California’s state flag, which features a powerful grizzly bear beneath a red star. That design recalls the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, when a small group of settlers briefly declared California an independent republic before it was absorbed into the United States. Though short-lived, the revolt became a symbol of defiance and frontier pride — qualities woven into the identity of the state, and reflected in the team that carries its nickname.

The Warriors’ current badge, introduced in 2010, centres on another defining Californian landmark: the Golden Gate Bridge. Opened in 1937 after four years of construction, it was at the time the longest suspension bridge in the world. Its distinctive “International Orange” colour was chosen to stand out against San Francisco’s fog while blending with the natural landscape. Beyond its practical brilliance, the bridge became a global icon of American engineering and optimism during the Great Depression. On the Warriors’ crest, it symbolises not only San Francisco’s identity but also connection — between the city and the wider Bay Area, and between the team and its state.

This backdrop gives extra weight to what the Warriors have achieved on the court. Under Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the team created a dynasty, winning four championships between 2015 and 2022 and revolutionising basketball with their reliance on speed, teamwork, and three-point shooting. They set an NBA record with a 73–9 season in 2015–16, surpassing even Michael Jordan’s Bulls, while their fans at Oracle Arena — nicknamed “Roaracle” — became legendary for the deafening noise that spurred the team on.

Taken together, the Warriors’ badge is more than decoration. It’s a snapshot of California’s story: a state built on gold, rebellion, and opportunity; a city that looks outward across the bridge; and a team that redefined its sport on the world stage. The Golden Gate connects the Bay, and the Warriors’ crest connects basketball to the history and identity of the Golden State.