The Golden State Warriors enjoyed one of the greatest runs in NBA history over the last decade or so, marked by four championships and six Finals appearances. The gamble of drafting unconventional talents such as Stephen Curry , Klay Thompson and Draymond Green no doubt paid off, with additions like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston helping to fill other gaps on the roster. The decision to hire Steve Kerr as head coach turned out to be a masterstroke, as well.
Everything seems to fit perfectly with the Warriors, from having arguably the greatest backcourt ever in the Splash Brothers to assembling a strong bench. However, nobody could have predicted they would revolutionize the game forever, especially with their 3-point shooting. The 2014-15 season marked the beginning of the golden era and their first title in 40 years.
That said, the Warriors did suffer an embarrassing setback in the 2016 Finals but bounced back by signing Kevin Durant , making it almost impossible for any opposition to overcome this juggernaut. Back in the hunt, KD's former teammate Klay was once asked about the reason behind Golden State's success, to which he replied the following.
"No one complains about touches. No one complains about playing time. Everyone accepts their role. Most importantly, we put winning on a pedestal. We don't care about being All-Stars or our individual numbers dipping. We just realize that it means nothing if we don't finish the job out," stated Klay amid the 2016-17 season.
"That's what we learned last year, and... that's why Kevin joined us, was to build something special here and compete for championships for years to come, and I think we have that ability," he added.
It's fair to say that the Warriors have been one of the most influential teams over the last decade, led by arguably the greatest shooter of all time, Curry, who changed the game with his 3-point shooting and ability to play without always needing the ball in his hands.
Apart from that, Coach Kerr's brand of basketball relied heavily on floor spacing, rapid ball movement, and a fast-paced, unselfish style of offense. Indeed, a break from the traditional template and textbook-style playbook that prioritized scoring primarily in the interiors.
For a long time, none of the defenses had an answer for the Splash Brothers, who would shoot the lights out of any arena. As a result, the Golden State had begun to assert its dominance over the league. Looking invincible at one point, the team suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in Finals history, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Despite the historic meltdown against the Cavs in the 2016 Finals, the Warriors were still a 73-9 team. As a result, adding Durant to the mix made them unstoppable. Nonetheless, the Slim Reaper led Golden State to back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018 and was named Finals MVP both times.
Had it not been for his Achilles injury in the 2019 Finals, the Warriors would have indeed become the first team to three-peat since the Los Angeles Lakers did between 2000 and 2002. During his three years in the Bay Area, Durant averaged some of his numbers.
Though he did turn villain overnight after deciding to join a super team, many believe Durant was convinced he could not win alongside Russell Westbrook . Simultaneously, KD was drawn to how the Dubs ran their system so efficiently, a key factor in his 2016 free-agent decision.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
