The Golden State Warriors know all about breaking records. The team earned the best regular season record in NBA history during its 2015-16 campaign, and on Tuesday, the players received 11-carat diamond rings, a reward for knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers to become the 2017 NBA champs.
Each ring boasts 83 diamonds, representing their regular season and playoff wins from the 2016-17 season. The amount of diamonds is the most of any championship ring ever in the four major professional sports (basketball, baseball, football and hockey).
The rings were created by high-end California jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills, who included several symbolic features such as 36 princess blue sapphires and 31 white trapezoidal diamonds (representing Golden State’s home and away wins). They also include three “4-0” and one “4-1” engravings, which serve as a reminder of the Warriors’ records during the 2017 NBA Playoffs, and the roman numerals “XVI-I” for the team’s overall record in the playoff stretch.
Each player’s ring is finished with five trophies, representing the franchise’s five NBA championships. Every ring is specifically individualized with an engraving of the player’s name.
Watch on FN
The Warriors received the rings during a ceremony ahead of its home opener against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. During the event, the team lined up in white championship jackets featuring a gold Nike Swoosh and the Warriors emblem.
Although pre-game was a celebration, the Warriors couldn’t keep their winning streak going to start the 2017-18 season. The team dropped its home opener to the Rockets, 122-121.
