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Era

The Warriors revolution: how shooting changed the floor

Golden State did more than win four championships. Curry, Thompson and Green changed which shots teams valued, how far defenses had to stretch and what a dynasty could look like.

NBA Finals
2022
GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
BOSTONCELTICS
COMPLETE SERIES

The story in one sentence

Golden State did more than win four championships. Curry, Thompson and Green changed which shots teams valued, how far defenses had to stretch and what a dynasty could look like.

01

Spacing changes what every player on the floor can do.

02

A system can amplify stars without reducing their individuality.

03

A dynasty’s return can clarify what made its first version special.

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. 2009–12

    A homegrown core appears

    Golden State drafted Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green over four years. Curry’s early ankle problems obscured what the trio might become.

    Western ConferenceSemifinals
    2013
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    SAN ANTONIOSPURS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    Western semifinals · first glimpse

    Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs

  2. 2014–15

    Kerr removes the ceiling

    Steve Kerr emphasized movement, passing, switching and the shooting range of the Splash Brothers. Golden State won 67 games and its first championship in 40 years.

    NBA Finals
    2015
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    CLEVELANDCAVALIERS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    NBA Finals · first championship

    Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers

  3. 2015–16

    The geometry breaks

    Curry’s unanimous MVP season included 402 threes and shots from distances defenses had never treated as normal. The Warriors won 73 games and recovered from 3–1 down against Oklahoma City before losing the same lead in the Finals.

    Western ConferenceFinals
    2016
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    OKLAHOMA CITYTHUNDER
    COMPLETE SERIES

    Western finals · comeback

    Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder

    NBA Finals
    2016
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    CLEVELANDCAVALIERS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    NBA Finals · history reverses

    Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers

  4. 2016–19

    Durant creates the superteam version

    Kevin Durant added elite isolation scoring to an already historic system. Golden State won consecutive titles, reached five straight Finals and forced the rest of the league to rethink both spacing and roster construction.

    NBA Finals
    2017
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    CLEVELANDCAVALIERS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    NBA Finals · peak superteam

    Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers

    Western ConferenceFinals
    2018
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    HOUSTONROCKETS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    Western finals · greatest resistance

    Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets

  5. 2019–22

    Injury, absence and restoration

    Durant left, Thompson missed two full seasons and the Warriors fell out of contention. The original core returned with Andrew Wiggins and younger contributors; Curry’s 43-point Finals Game 4 powered a fourth championship in eight seasons.

    NBA Finals
    2019
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    TORONTORAPTORS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    NBA Finals · dynasty interrupted

    Golden State Warriors vs Toronto Raptors

    NBA Finals
    2022
    GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
    BOSTONCELTICS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    NBA Finals · restoration

    Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics

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