Celebrini’s Olympic run lifts Warriors and Sharks as Bay Area watches
In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors have been following Macklin celebrini’s dramatic Olympic run in Milan with more than casual interest — and the rest of the Bay Area is paying attention because his performance is already reshaping the Sharks’ business and fan conversation. What began as a tight semifinal in Italy has become a cross-sport moment that matters to teammates, family and franchise executives.
Family ties kept Warriors watching the final minutes
Players and coaches at the Chase Center found themselves glued to a screen roughly 6, 000 miles from Milan as Team Canada battled in what became a tense game. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the team had half the roster watching the final two minutes because it was 2-2 and “it was 10 o’clock” when they were supposed to start a film session. The Warriors had been preparing for a Sunday game against the Denver Nuggets, but the immediate focus was on Celebrini and Team Canada.
That attention is personal: Celebrini’s father, Rick, is the Warriors’ vice president of player health and performance and has also been described as the vice president of player health and medicine; he has been with the organization since 2018. Rick stayed in Los Angeles for a couple of extra days after a recent road trip to be present for Jimmy Butler’s ACL surgery, then flew to Milan to join the family and cheer on his son. Kerr noted the pride in Rick’s eyes and voice as a reason the locker room is so engaged.
Celebrini’s family history in Golden State stretches to pickup games
Kerr and other members of the organization have known the Celebrini family for years. Kerr recalled seeing Macklin play fullcourt pickup games against his mother, Robyn, older brother Aiden and younger sister Charlie at the team’s old Oakland facility. Swingman Moses Moody said he first got to know Macklin when they rehabbed injuries under Rick’s watch and praised the family’s demeanor; Moody joked that he wants Rick to “come back in a good mood. ”
Moody described Macklin as having a “silent confidence, ” and pointed to the youngest brother, RJ, as an up-and-coming teenage hockey player who also carries himself with composure and competitiveness.
Warriors players urged Bay Area fans to ‘go watch Mack’
Gary Payton II, who routinely ends press conferences with “you guys are great, ” used a more pointed plea after a Friday practice: “Go watch Mack, alright? Everybody, wake up in the Bay, and watch Mack. ” His comments came less than 24 hours before a 5 a. m. PST Olympic gold medal match between Team Canada and Team USA in Italy and included a prediction that viewers would be watching one of the sport’s all-time greats, likening the trajectory to Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
Kerr conceded he is not a hockey expert but said he sees a steadiness in the 19-year-old and even drew a comparison, in temperament if not sport, to Stephen Curry. Kerr praised what he called a rare combination of talent and leadership and noted Celebrini’s maturity at 19.
On-ice breakout in Milan: minutes, shots and a key assist
In Milan, Celebrini drew attention as the youngest NHL player at the Olympics and the youngest-ever player on a Team Canada roster. Across five Olympic appearances he has totaled 10 points while skating alongside household names such as Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon and Sidney Crosby. In a dramatic come-from-behind semifinal, Celebrini led Canada in ice time, skating nearly 26 minutes, recorded a team-high eight shots on goal and assisted on McKinnon’s game-winner.
Sharks see commercial and cultural lift tied to his rise
Celebrini’s impact has extended to the San Jose Sharks. He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft after spending one season at Boston University as a 17-year-old. After a strong rookie campaign, Celebrini’s second NHL season has produced 81 points (28 goals, 53 assists) in 55 games — a total described as the fourth most in the league — and has put him in Hart Trophy conversation while the Sharks sit at 27-24-4.
Sharks chief marketing officer Doug Bentz said the athletic spectacle of the Olympics is drawing people in and called Celebrini a must-watch whose performance at the Games “confirms our belief that he can be a global superstar. ” Bentz, who has marketed the Sharks for more than two decades, said the franchise’s strategy over the last five years has focused on growth beyond the Bay Area and that Celebrini represents a golden ticket.
The business effect is measurable in the franchise’s view: the Sharks set a record for single-game ticket sales during Celebrini’s rookie season despite finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference, and with his current 81-point season they are on track to surpass that ticket mark by nearly $3 million. Since arriving in Milan two weeks ago, Celebrini’s public profile has ballooned — his Instagram following has grown by 40%, and he has had the most-visited player profile during the Olympic break.
Fans and local voices split patriotism and regional pride
The Olympics have prompted an unusual split among local fans, some of whom are pledging allegiance to Team Canada because of Celebrini. Radio host Derek Papa said he loves America but believes Celebrini “is going to change things in the Bay Area” and called him “the Steph Curry of hockey. ” Others among Warriors players and Sharks executives are watching both the medal stakes and the ways celebrini’s performance is reshaping fandom and revenue back home.
A photo by Kelley L Cox has been used in coverage of his run, underscoring how the moment has been documented visually as well as on the scoreboard.
