A Pride Night celebration at the Golden State Warriors’ game took an unexpected turn when national anthem singer Jason Broccoli waved a rainbow flag during his performance, prompting visible laughter from two players.
During Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center, Broccoli unfurled the Pride flag while singing the line “what so proudly we hailed” β a lyric that traditionally references the American flag. The moment was captured on the arena’s jumbotron as cameras panned to Warriors players Charles Bassey and De’Anthony Melton, both of whom appeared to be laughing during the performance.
Mixed Reactions to Anthem Moment
While the Warriors were already hosting a Pride Night event celebrating the LGBTQ community, Broccoli’s decision to incorporate the flag during the national anthem drew attention. Social media footage showed the singer waving the rainbow banner in sync with the anthem’s lyrics about the American flag, creating what some viewers saw as a pointed cultural statement.
It remains unclear whether Bassey and Melton were specifically reacting to the flag display, but the timing of their laughter coincided with Broccoli’s gesture. The NBA and Warriors organization had not commented on the incident at time of publication, according to Sport & State, which first reported the story.
Debate Over Sports and Symbolism
The incident comes amid ongoing national conversations about the role of social and political messaging in sports. While many teams across professional leagues now host annual Pride Nights, the incorporation of such symbolism into the traditional national anthem performance remains less common.
Some observers questioned whether the anthem β typically seen as a unifying moment before sporting events β was the appropriate venue for additional statements. Others defended the gesture as consistent with the evening’s theme of LGBTQ inclusion.
This marks at least the second recent instance of anthem-related controversy for the Warriors organization. In 2025, the team faced criticism when several players remained in the locker room during the national anthem before a playoff game.
Source: www.dailywire.com β https://www.dailywire.com/news/warriors-cant-contain-laughter-as-national-anthem-singer-waves-pride-flag