Hackney teenager Patrick Morrison enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to the United States recently.
The 14-year-old NBA superfan had a surprise visit from star player Draymond Green at an event at Crystal Palace earlier this year.
And following on from that, Morrison crossed the Atlantic to see the Golden State Warriors play on their home court and takes up the story here.
I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay area to see first-hand the current NBA champion Golden State Warriors play two games.
I couldn’t believe my luck, it was a regular cold Thursday morning in London but I knew I’d be in the Sunshine State in a number of hours sitting on the dock of the bay.
I was invited to Oakland by the backbone of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA-championship side, Draymond Green. A two-time NBA champion, defensive player of the year and my favorite player.
I was brought the incredible news a week before I was flown out by a video from Draymond himself. I would have never expected that I would have the opportunity to watch the Warriors play at their home, the Oracle Arena, after all those years of staying up late due to being ill.
Not only was I in the presence of the greatest teams the NBA has ever had, I was also incredibly fortunate to be in the presence of one of the most famous organisations around the world, the Chicago Bulls.
Over the years they had proven themselves to be the best of the best thanks to the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Warriors own Steve Kerr. It was amazing to see those famous jerseys. I was also privileged to see the upcoming New Orleans Pelicans play. Their squad is incredibly strong with the likes of Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins and the current NBA All-Star MVP, Anthony Davis.
One thing that struck me more than anything about the whole experience was how kind the Golden State Warriors were to me. They opened their arms to a small kid from Hackney who stays up to 3am to see the champs do what the champs do.
Not only were the players incredibly kind to me but the fans, working staff and of course the men behind the scenes.
I can’t thank all of them enough, but the one man who made me speechless was Draymond Green. Every night I was in the Oracle Arena he would run up to me to say “What’s up Brother” and to give me a hug.
To be able to say I’ve met him is a privilege, but to say that he knows my name and truly appreciates me is a gift from God.
I couldn’t believe my luck, I remember sitting in the Oracle Arena for the final few seconds of the game and thinking, ‘Why me?’.
Then I realised that it was all down to the loving family that I can now call my own at the NBA UK. Not only did they give me the best experience of my life but they have made me realize what I want do to in the future, work for them.
Basketball got me to Oakland, where do you want it to get you?
Fans in the UK can follow the NBA on Facebook at facebook.com/NBAUK or on Twitter @NBAUK.
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