OAKLAND, Calif., March 20 (UPI) -- Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob said Tuesday he was "stunned" when he has vociferously booed during a ceremony honoring Hall of Famer Chris Mullin.
Boos rained down on Lacob during halftime of Monday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves while he congratulated the former Warriors great and officially retired his No. 17 jersey.
"I was a little bit stunned that it went on as long as it did or as loud as it was," Lacob told KNBR-AM, San Francisco.
The Warriors -- who have made the playoffs only once since 1993-94 and haven't reached the conference finals since 1975-76 -- incurred the wrath of fans with last week's trade of popular guard Monta Ellis to Milwaukee.
The crowd took it out on the owner as he and Mullin were at center court, prompting Mullin and fellow ex-Warriors great Rick Barry to plead for civility.
"I don't blame them at all," Lacob told the broadcaster. "I'd rather not be at the butt-end of their booing, but it is what it is. I just want everybody to know we have worked very hard, we're continuing to work very hard, to change this franchise for the better in the short term and the long term."
