The Oakland Raiders were recently featured on an ESPN basketball segment as Sam Alipour caught up with some Raiders players and discussed the team, the city of Oakland and the Golden State Warriors, among other things, over a game of pickup basketball.
The Raiders dynamic receiving duo of Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper were both in attendance, as they were on separate teams and proposed the stipulations of the game.
With the offseason quickly coming to a close and OTA offseason workouts and minicamp just around the corner, this was a good way for the Raiders players to debrief before embarking on a journey that they hope ends in the Raiders first Super Bowl since 1984.
After a very successful 2016 season in which the Raiders went 12-4 and reached the postseason for the first time since 2003, the season ended with a sour taste in their mouths as Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr went down with a broken leg in Week 16, ending his season and ultimately ending the Raiders season as they were defeated by the Houston Texans in the wildcard round.
Carr is back to 100 percent though, and in addition to Crabtree and Cooper he has a whole new crop of weapons to work with on offense, as the Raiders signed running back Marshawn Lynch, tight end Jared Cook and wide receiver/returnman Cordarrelle Patterson this offseason.
The Raiders core nucleus of players have been together a few years now and have developed some chemistry, so they will look to use that to their advantage this upcoming season.