With help of Steph Curry and other celebs, McClymonds opens new Bill Russell Gymnasium
Russell’s widow, Jeannine, cried tears of joy as she gave a heartfelt speech to the packed gymnasium.
OAKLAND — It was a joyous day for a small high school in West Oakland.
For just a few hours on Friday afternoon, McClymonds High was packed with local and national celebrities for the opening of its newly refurbished basketball gym.
Oakland royalty including former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch and rapper Mistah F.A.B. sat courtside. Cal alum Jaylen Brown made an appearance as did former NBA point guard Brandon Jennings. Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum and YouTubers MrBeast and Jesser were present as the Oakland school opened its doors to the new Bill Russell Gymnasium, named after the Boston Celtics legend and McClymonds’ most famous graduate.
And who better to introduce McClymonds’ new gym than the man who won three NBA titles for The Town?
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry presented the upgraded McClymonds gym as a part of apparel company Under Armour’s push to refurbish courts across America. It’s the 20th court that the sneaker brand has refurbished since Curry signed with UA in 2013.
For Curry, completing this project was about honoring McClymonds and Russell’s rich history.
“So many legends have come through here, so many championships were won here,” Curry told the crowd filled with OUSD parents, alums and students. “But it’s more so about the people that have been nurtured and grown by the spirit of this place from the teachers to the students to the faculty and administration.
“We want to celebrate the beautiful Russell family name. Bill Russell came from this gym and went on to do amazing things, not just for the game of basketball but in life.”
Russell, a 1952 graduate from McClymonds considered one of the best players in NBA history, died in 2022 and would have turned 91 earlier this week. The Hall of Famer’s widow, Jeannine Russell, cried tears of joy as she gave a heartfelt speech to the packed gymnasium. Wearing an oversized beige long-sleeve sweater worn by her late husband, Jeannine thanked Curry and the community for honoring Russell and his accomplishments on the court and as a civil rights pioneer.
“I see today more than a tribute or a gift,” Jeannine said. “It’s a chance for McClymonds to gain insight into what made Bill a champion. It wasn’t just his rebounding or his defense, but his unwavering belief in the power of education, leadership and standard for something greater than himself.”
Curry came out to roars and screams as he entered the Oakland gym. But he wasn’t the only celebrity that the young kids cheered for.
Attendees watch Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, at McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif., before the Oakland Unified School District All-Star Basketball Game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)To the surprise of many in attendance, Curry brought out famed YouTuber MrBeast to shoot a new YouTube video featuring Curry and McClymonds senior basketball player Demarrion Gardner.
The premise of the video was for Curry and Gardner to compete in a 3-point contest with the winner receiving $100,000 from MrBeast himself. When asked if he was nervous to go up against the greatest shooter of all time, Gardner said, “Nah.”
Curry would go on to make 14 3s to Gardner’s nine, but it was all in good fun. With the win, Curry donated $100,000 to the Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation – a charity set up by Curry and his wife Ayesha to support young children’s health and learning.
YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, greets attendees at McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif., before the Oakland Unified School District All-Star Basketball Game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)But the highlight of the night was the Oakland Unified School District All-Star Game.
The co-ed game featured some of the best high school basketball players from the Oakland Athletic League, which included Ardarius Grayson (Oakland Tech), Dasean Armstrong (Oakland), Deyonte Spears (Fremont-Oakland), Brandon Davis (McClymonds), Jhai Johnson (Oakland Tech) and Terri’A Russell (Oakland Tech).
The teams were coached by Jennings and Plum, who enthusiastically cheered on their players.
Johnson and Spears took home the game MVPs as each put up bucket after bucket for their respective teams, scoring 15 points each.
While the competitive rivalries of the OAL make the league as competitive as it is, Grayson cherished the fact that he was able to play alongside players who wear different uniforms during the school week.
“I never thought I would play with some of these guys,” Grayson said. “It was fun playing with and against them today. It was just a lot of fun.”
The historic day hit home for OAL commissioner Frankie Navarro. Navarro was an athlete at Castlemont, later working as a coach and administrator in the OUSD and was proud to see the rich history of Oakland high school sports be honored.
“It’s always great for me to be able to see the things that we envision to come true,” Navarro said. “The Bill Russell legacy, the school of champions legacy, will continue no matter what people say about it. … It’s good for these kids to see there’s positive things happening in Oakland.”
Former football player Marshawn Lynch attends the Oakland Unified School District All-Star Basketball Game at McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
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