SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Tens of thousands of fans poured onto the streets of San Francisco on Monday to salute the victorious Golden State Warriors as the team celebrated its fourth NBA championship in eight seasons with an open-top bus parade.

A blizzard of blue and gold confetti billowed along downtown San Francisco’s Market Street as buses carrying the Warriors players and team staff made their way along the 1.4 mile-long parade route.

The Warriors clinched their seventh NBA crown on Thursday, after defeating the Boston Celtics on the road in game six of the finals, to close out a 4-2 series victory.

The victory completed a triumphant return to the pinnacle of the sport just two years after the Warriors finished the 2019-2020 season with the worst record in basketball.

Warriors talisman Stephen Curry — wearing a gold chain carrying his collection of NBA championship rings — led the festivities as Golden State players sprayed hordes of fans with champagne in brilliant sunshine.

“I had to bring the jewellery back out,” Curry said of his ring-laden necklace.

“I don’t look at it during the year [but] every so often, though, you gotta remind yourself — we got four!”

Curry said the Warriors had been motivated to get back in the winners’ circle after a painful defeat in the 2019 NBA Finals.

“I’d be lying if I said I knew we’d be champions because it’s a lot of work — but sometimes you’ve got to manifest it,” Curry reasoned.

“We had some reverses, hit some road bumps, but peaked at the right time; and everybody — 1 through 16, our coaching staff, everyone — played a significant part in this.”

The Warriors’ defensive star Draymond Green paid tribute to the Warriors players and team personnel who made the win possible.

“This has been an amazing year,” Green said. “I told you no one could stop us from winning a championship. I warned you all.

“I really love this group. And when I say this group, I mean this entire group.

“There were times in the past when we won a championship and everything didn’t have to be aligned, like we were just that good.”