Indy native, member of ’75 Warriors team reminisces about title

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Steph Curry and the NBA champions enjoyed the spoils of a title Friday afternoon, the darlings of northern California with a special parade.

And while the celebration goes on in the Bay area, a guy who lives in Fishers knows first-hand what it’s like to be a Warrior NBA champion.

Indy’s own Frank Kendrick, a star at Arsenal Tech high in the 60’s, then an All-America at Purdue, was a rookie on the last Warriors team to win an NBA title, back in 1975.

“We had the best team in the world you know,” said Kendrick. “Imagine getting to the top of the world in whatever your profession and being number one, and growing up on the east side of Indianapolis here, young, poor, wow, what an accomplishment.”

That it was. His team, led by Rick Barry, Butch Beard and Jamaal Wilkes beat the Bullets for the title, and is well-represented in his home. Kendrick has his Warrior uniform framed and mounted, a basketball signed by that championship squad, and the most special memento of all? The ring, one he’s worn the past four decades. Can you believe it’s been 40 years?

“It’s hard, where did the years go?,” added Kendrick. “It’s hard but it has been, just let you know, people always tell you life is short, now I understand that a lot better.”

Kendrick loved watching this year’s Warrior team. He  says their style was much like his title squad, but as for the city celebration back in ’75?

“There was a parade and everything but I wasn’t there at that time, I was gone. I missed the championship parade. I was gone and the reason I was gone, I was back here in Indianapolis at Pacer tryout camp.”

His better option was playing overseas where he spent a successful decade, but has hasn’t forgotten that night 40 years ago.