The Golden State Warriors’ dynasty wasn’t the chapter many around the league expected coming.
Their core talent was not initially expected to have such historical dominance.
Stephen Curry could be taken with the No. 7 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, but he’s not really a top prospect because there are so many questions hanging over him.
Draymond Green was overlooked until the second round, and Klay Thompson didn’t become a star right away.
However, this trajectory suddenly changed in 2014.
Under coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors quickly transformed into a true title threat, winning championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018.
Tony Allen, a defensive stalwart who was playing for the Memphis Grizzlies at the time, witnessed this incredible growth as the two teams played against each other frequently during this period.
“It’s funny how they showed up. The year before that, we were treating them like little boys. Well, we spank them. All of a sudden we looked up and they’d been spanking us all year long,” Allen recalled.
“We’re like, ‘Damn, these kids are tough.’ Draymond Green, you gotta give him props, he’s still holding it down,” he added.
Allen and the Grizzlies were among the teams the Warriors lost 4-2 in the Western Conference semifinals as they fought for their first title.
That momentous year saw Steve Kerr’s coaching debut, Curry his first MVP award, Thompson his first All-Star selection, and Green his first All-NBA Defensive Team selection.
The Warriors truly dominated the league during that time, winning 67 games in 2014-2015 and a historic 73 games the following season.
More than a decade after their initial rise, Curry and Green remain on the roster, and Kerr still leads the team and is chasing another ring to extend his dynasty.
Even if they can’t extend the losing streak, the Warriors era we witnessed from 2014 to 2022 will be remembered as one of the greatest and most influential dynasties the league has ever seen.