NBA champion Warriors welcomed home by fans at airport

If you think Oracle Arena gets loud, wait until the Bay Area celebrates the Golden State Warriors' first championship in 40 years with a celebratory parade on Friday.

The Warriors got their first taste of that exuberance when they arrived home on Wednesday after their championship-clinching Game 6 win in Cleveland.

Finals MVP Andre Iguodala was serenaded with chants of 'M-V-P,' while head coach Steve Kerr was shown his fair share of appreciation after guiding the Warriors to the title in his first year on the job.

As two helicopters hovered above the airport, the chartered flight carrying the champs received an escort from a police car and two fire trucks on the runway. Stephen Curry was the first player off the plane and was quickly joined by teammates on the staircase.

Warriors employees, shuttled from team headquarters on three buses, cheered and chanted ''War-ri-ors!'' and the song ''We Are the Champions'' by Queen. They also pounded inflatable sticks and gave hugs and handshakes to players and coaches, with just about everybody taking photos and videos on their smartphones.

Most of the Warriors' contingent, who were accompanied by their families, wore gray ''NBA Champs'' shirts. And just about everybody - including the pilots - walked off with championship hats.

''Phenomenal. Still on cloud nine. It really hasn't set in yet,'' Warriors forward Draymond Green said.

Asked if he expects to be back next season, pending restricted free agent Green shouted: ''Hell yeah I expect to be back here.''

The welcome home capped a busy two-day stretch for the Warriors.

After finishing off the Cavaliers, the team had a dinner at a high-end steakhouse in Cleveland. They stayed up late celebrating with friends and family, and congratulations poured in from all over - including President Barack Obama, who phoned coach Steve Kerr to congratulate the Warriors on winning the title and invite them for a customary White House visit.

The dizzying daze of a championship celebration left no time for sleep - even on the plane ride home, which Curry called a party for some and a chance to relax for others.

''You're still kind of on an adrenaline rush and excited to win a championship, so guys are taking naps, guys are listening to music, just talking about how fun the journey's been,'' Curry said. ''And now we get to celebrate for real.''

About 30 fans waited outside the private terminal's parking lot at Oakland International Airport, with some players and coaches stopping on their way out for autographs and photos. A championship parade is planned Friday in downtown Oakland, where fans from throughout the Bay Area are expected to cheer on the market's only NBA team.

''This is nice to be back home with the trophy and be able to celebrate with our fans,'' Curry said. ''I can't wait for the parade. It's going to be so much fun. The Bay Area deserves this championship and we're going to have a good time celebrating.''

With files from theScore