The Golden State Warriors are far removed from their dominant days when a loss was already considered a cataclysmic event. These days, losing has come often for a team that has reached the highest of heights in the last decade. And while there's plenty of blame to go around regarding the Dubs' downfall, head coach Steve Kerr knows that it's just a natural progression for any great team.
In an interview with The Athletic Show, Kerr did not sugarcoat the state of the Warriors' franchise, acknowledging the inevitable decline of a team that for years in the 2010s seemed unbeatable.
In the NBA, there are only a few constants: the Los Angeles Lakers getting superstars, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drawing fouls and dynasties crumbling. Fans saw this happen to the Lakers and the Celtics in the 1990s and later, the Chicago Bulls . In this era, it was the Warriors who reigned supreme, winning four NBA titles in eight seasons.
However, since winning it all for the last time in 2022, the Warriors have looked mortal, even missing the postseason in 2024. This season, they hold a 15-15 win-loss record and are currently battling for a spot in the Play-in Tournament, not contending for a championship, as many thought they would after finishing last season on a high note.
Asked by Zena Keita about what it would take for the Warriors' dynasty to close, Kerr candidly noted that it's getting there.
"Well, it is closing as we speak. We just don't know exactly when it's going to end," Kerr exclaimed . "And what we're hanging on to is the idea that we still have something left in the tank. And if all the pieces fall into place, we think we have a shot. So we're trying to get one more."
With iconic superstar Stephen Curry still playing at an elite level (he's averaging 28.7 points at age 37), and Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green providing support, the Warriors are leaning on their collective experience to survive the gauntlet in the West. However, now is as good a time as any to start gaining momentum and rhythm.
If anyone knows what the end of a dynasty looks and feels like, it's Kerr. After all, he was part of the Bulls teams that lorded over the '90s and the San Antonio Spurs that set the bar for excellence in the 2000s.
"With the Bulls, they were already a dynasty. They had won three in a row, so I knew I was joining a dynasty. And when it ended, everyone knew it ended," Kerr noted.
"The Spurs, I don't know that I even knew I was part of a dynasty while I was there because, you know, we won two championships, '99 and '03. I retired, and the dynasty really happened after that," he continued. "And it was a different kind of dynasty. It was sustained success over multiple years."
What made the Warriors' dynasty different, according to Kerr, was how it came from left field. The rest of the league knew they were building towards something, but nobody expected them to win it all in 2015 and just keep winning.
"And then this one sort of snuck up on us. We didn't really know, but once it did, we knew we were in the middle of it. And that was pretty cool," Steve said.
The Warriors are giving it one last push and although it's not looking good at the moment, everybody can trust them to go out swinging before everything is said and done.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
