The league has confirmed what we previously reported – the sale is done. Here are the releases from the Warriors and the NBA.

Warriors release:

SALE OF GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TO JOE LACOB AND PETER GUBER COMPLETE

Duo to Serve As Lead Partners of GSW Sports LLC, New Ownership Group of Bay Area NBA Team

OAKLAND, CA – The sale of the Golden State Warriors to an ownership group headed by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber was formally completed today, the team announced. GSW Sports LLC, a group of six board members and multiple investors, headed by Lacob and Guber, have officially assumed full control of the NBA organization.

“This announcement has been much-anticipated,” said Lacob. “Now that the process is officially complete, I am incredibly anxious and excited to take the helm of the Golden State Warriors organization. It’s a great day for me and my family, and a great day for Warriors fans. The unmatched passion of this Bay Area fan base played a huge role in my pursuit of this dream come true, and I’m looking forward to a tremendous ride on our journey to the return to greatness. We will work extremely hard to represent you as the championship organization that you deserve, and the team that you will be proud to be a part of.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for new ownership, the Warriors franchise and its great fans,” Guber said. “I’m convinced that we have formed a passionate and well-diversified group. With the financial and intellectual commitment of the board members and investors, and Warriors fans as the truly key partners in this endeavor, we will not fail.

“We all understand that in sports business, it’s about winning, but we will also strive to make sure that the Warriors are recognized among our industry leaders in innovation and business practices. Joe and I have assembled a group of highly successful and well-respected individuals, each of whom will provide expertise in various aspects of our business. This will be an extremely strong, productive and creative partnership.”

The sale of the Warriors to GSW Sports LLC was unanimously approved by the NBA Board of Governors earlier today.  Game Plan LLC, a Miami Beach-based investment banking firm, represented GSW Sports LLC on the sale, while Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP served as legal counsel for this record-breaking transaction.

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NBA’s release:

NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SALE OF GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
TO JOE LACOB AND PETER GUBER

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2010 – The sale of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors to a
group led by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber has been completed following
unanimous approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors.

“We are delighted to welcome Joe Lacob and Peter Guber as majority owners
of the Warriors,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “Their commitment to
the community, strong ownership group and business acumen will benefit the
Warriors and their passionate fans both on and off the court.”

Warriors guard Monta Ellis dribbled the ball through his legs a few times, right in front of the New York Knicks bench, giving his teammates time to clear out the right side of the court.

Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari was in front of him, but before he could squat into something remotely similar to a defensive position, Ellis had blown right by him. As he took off towards the rim, Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire hustled over to try to get a block. But Ellis kind of twisted right around Stoudemire, and gently dropped in a reverse finger roll over the front rim.

What back injury?

ELLIS: “I don’t think about it. I think about it after the game. When I’m out there, I just play basketball.”

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Warriors guard Monta Ellis is expecting to play tonight. At Wednesday’s shootaround, he said he felt “fine,” just that he was sore.
“Yeah,” Ellis said, “I’m playing.”
Ellis is officially listed as a game-time decision. He will be examined before the game to see how his back has recovered. But Ellis said he knew he was playing “when I left Toronto.”
An X-Ray and CT scan revealed Ellis suffered a lower back strain, good news considering how bad the fall looked late in Monday’s win over Toronto. Ellis laid motionless on the court, but said it wasn’t that he couldn’t move as much as he was he was in pain and he was instructed not to move.
Ellis has received treatment and looked to be uninhibited taking set shots at the end of shootaround. He was able to reach down for the pass. He wasn’t taking jump shots, but he got full extension on his release. He even bent over to pick up his stuff as he left to board the team bus. There is a chance his back could still spasm up and limit his mobility.
Head coach Keith Smart said as long as Ellis is cleared by doctors, he would leave the decision up to Ellis. Of course, for Ellis, who has a reputation for speedy recoveries and playing through ailments, the decision is easy.

How is Monta Ellis’ back? How will David Lee be received in his return to New York? What’s the latest with Warriors Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike?
Our Marcus Thompson II will be answering these questions and more when he conducts a live chat during the first half of the Warriors game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The results are in from guard Monta Ellis’ examination. He had an X-Ray and CT scan and was diagnosed with a strained lower back.
He is leaving Toronto to rejoin the team today in New York. He is officially listed as day-to-day, which if accurate is a lot sooner than it appeared he would be out on Monday.
Ellis took a nasty spill late in the fourth quarter. He went up for a lay-up with two hands and, after colliding with a Raptors player in the air, landed awkwardly and wrenched his back.

The maturity of Monta Ellis was on display last night, before he went down with a lower back injury.

He’s still unable to keep his emotions off his face, so it was obvious when he was frustrated. On a couple of occasions, Stephen Curry came down and took a forced shot, or the one time David Lee lost the ball trying to dribble around his back, or when Jeremy Lin was wide left with a pass to Monta,
But Ellis could literally be seen taking a deep breath, biting his lip and keeping his composure. Not once did I see him walk to the bench screaming at his teammates, or pout off to the side.

During one third-quarter sequence, the Warriors went about five possessions without him getting a touch. What’s more, three of them were turnovers and each time, Ellis was the one hustling back on defense.

Once, Ellis was streaking down the left side on a break, but Curry’s pass was behind him and deflected. In the past, Ellis would have certainly through a mini temper tantrum and given up on the play. This time, he chased down the losse ball, outhustling a Raptor, and fed David Lee under the basket. Lee was fouled and made the two free throws.

He perhaps gambled too much and reached too much. But at times when things were going badly, he was clearly locked in on the defensive end.
Nobody played with more defensive intensity than Ellis on Monday.

KEITH SMART: “That’s what the good players do and that’s what he’s doing. He’s proving himself to be as good as he said he wanted to be. And that’s what he’s doing with the way he’s playing, the way he’s approaching the game, the way he’s competing.”

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On the first day of training camp, head coach Keith Smart made a pact with his players. He sealed it with a handshake from each player.

ANDRIS BIEDRINS: “I was thinking, ‘Shake his hands or not?’ (laugh) He was like holding (his hand out), holding, holding. Finally I was like ‘OK.’ “

What was the pact? Basically, that they don’t take anything personal. Smart said he wanted to make it clear in advance that when he gets on them, he isn’t trying to dog them out, but trying to make them better. He wanted their approval to be hard on them at times without it becoming an issue, to challenge them without it turning into anything more.

That agreement was challenged in Friday’s win over Utah. During the timeout, at the 2:49 mark of the second quarter, Smart could be seen barking at his $80 million power forward, who then barked back.

KEITH SMART: “At times when you’re not doing what you need, I’m going to let you know. But also know that I don’t hang on to anything. It’s over. He was supposed to do something, and he didn’t do it.”

What didn’t Lee do?

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