The Golden State Warriors have been the most dominant team in the NBA over the last decade, making six NBA Finals appearances in eight seasons and winning four championships. Led by Stephen Curry , the 'Baby-Faced Assassin' and arguably the greatest shooter of all time, and flanked by Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Dubs laid waste to the competition year after year.
But as they say, all good things must come to an end. After winning their fourth title in 2022, the Dubs fell in the second round of the playoffs in 2023 and failed to reach the postseason this year. In June, Klay departed Golden State and signed with the Dallas Mavericks, surprisingly ending an illustrious 13-year stint with the Warriors.
Although Curry and the Dubs would never admit it, they may be looking at the last days of the dynasty they have built since 2014. When asked if any team could ever replicate the success of Golden State, Steph answered he didn't think so.
Business gets in the way
As history has shown, dynasties often unravel when egos and business interests interfere. The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s could have continued their winning streak if not for the team owners' decision to break up the team over contract negotiations.
Similarly, the Los Angeles Lakers of the early 2000s, with their dynamic duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, were on the brink of a decade-long reign. However, the clash of the two players' massive egos led to the team's downfall. It seems the Warriors are facing a similar challenge, with business decisions potentially hindering their continued success.
In the case of the Dubs, it's becoming increasingly clear that business decisions may be the biggest obstacle to their continued success. Klay was eager to sign a contract extension, but management had other plans. The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter, feeling the weight of these decisions, decided to take his talents to Texas, a move that could significantly impact the team's future.
In addition, the new CBA rules punish overspending teams, and it may be impossible to keep "superteams" together for a long while.
"I don't think it will be replicated just because it's very hard to keep things together in this league. A lot more player movement," the two-time NBA MVP told ESPN's Malika Andrews.
In addition, finding the right chemistry and mix of skills and talents is very difficult in the NBA. With so many talented players, it's rare to see a team that can genuinely gel on and off the court—something the Dubs succeeded with their "Big 3."
"Me, Klay, and Draymond, we complemented each other so well for so long. We all brought something different to the table," Curry added. "People thought this was over in 201, and we lost that series and had a rough year, but 2022 was an amazing championship because we defied the odds and kept things together. That's 11 years of almost 12 years of championship relevancy built around a certain core."
Related: Kobe Bryant's former bodyguard compared working for him and other NBA stars: "Kobe was a sit outside-the-gate person"
Records are meant to be broken
The Dubs' dynasty has achieved so much in the last decade, with enough records to make your head spin. However, the "Chef" isn't closing the door on a team breaking their incredible feats.
"Records are meant to be broken. Dynasties come all different shapes and sizes, so we'll see," the former Davidson star stressed.
The Warriors are focused on building chemistry with the team's new additions. Klay and the "Point God" Chris Paul have moved on to other teams, but the Dubs have somewhat reloaded with the acquisitions of solid role players such as De'Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Kyle Anderson.
Related: "I just pray it works out" - Curry says he fully supports Klay's decision to start anew in Dallas
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