By Fan Arch February 14, 2024 02:06
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Dawson Gurley, also known as YouTuber Big Daws, gained notoriety for impersonating Golden State Warriors' player Klay Thompson. His elaborate impersonation ultimately led to a lifetime ban from the Chase Center, the Warriors' home arena, after he managed to gain unauthorized access to the court ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics.
Dawson Gurley's Impersonation Stunt
- Elaborate Impersonation: Gurley's impersonation of Klay Thompson involved interacting with unsuspecting fans, signing autographs, taking photos, and even playing one-on-one with random people, all while pretending to be the basketball star.
- Unauthorized Access: Gurley's most audacious stunt involved bypassing five layers of security, making his way to the court, and shooting around for about 10 minutes prior to Game 5 of the NBA Finals series.
- Lifetime Ban: As a consequence of his actions, Gurley received a lifetime ban from both the Chase Center and Kaiser Permanente Arena, the home of the Warriors' G League team in Santa Cruz.
Response to the Ban
- Acknowledgement: Gurley took to Twitter to acknowledge the ban, stating that he had been banned because of his ability to pass through security and shoot around on the court for 10 minutes. He also mentioned spending $10,000 on tickets, which he claimed would not be refunded.
- Technical Argument: While acknowledging the ban, Gurley argued that he technically did not trespass, as he conversed with security, went through metal detectors, and was welcomed into the building. He also emphasized that he never claimed to be Klay Thompson.
- Acceptance of the Ban: Despite the ban, Gurley expressed understanding and acceptance of the decision, stating that he did not want to make the issue a bigger deal than it was and that he had fun doing it.
Reaction from the Golden State Warriors
- Confirmation of the Ban: The Golden State Warriors officially confirmed the ban, citing that Gurley falsely impersonated a Warriors player in a deliberate attempt to access unauthorized areas within the Chase Center. This led to a lifetime ban from the arena and the Kaiser Permanente Arena.
- Official Letter: Gurley shared an official letter signed by Brian J. Herbert, Vice President of Security for the Golden State Warriors, which notified him of the ban from the arena.
Gurley's impersonation stunt as "Fake Klay" resulted in a lifetime ban from the Chase Center, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unauthorized access and impersonation.
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