The Golden State Warriors have advanced to their sixth NBA Finals in eight seasons – a remarkable accomplishment. The Warriors dispatched Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in five games for the right to compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy starting June 2nd.
Let’s take a look at what is at stake for the Warriors as a team and for some of their individual players:
Steph Curry: A Chance to Enhance his Legacy
Steph Curry is already one of the greatest point guards of all time, but winning a fourth title and his first Finals MVP would put him up there with some of the greatest players of all time. Many conversations among NBA pundits and NBA Twitter agree that winning a championship and a Finals MVP this season would put Steph Curry in the Top 10 players of all time, but few think doing it would make him the greatest point guard of all time. However you feel about Steph one thing is for certain, winning this championship would further enhance his legacy as one of the best we’ve ever seen.
Warriors Solidify Themselves as the Team of this Era
Winning a fourth title with the combination of Joe Lacob, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr would be special for the Warriors’ organization. Outside of Steph, Klay, Draymond and Looney, this is a different group of role players who are competing for a title. Kevin Durant is in Brooklyn and key role players like Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala are retired or barely play. This is a new group led by Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and rookies like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. The Warriors have done a great job in the draft and with trades – adding key pieces to this core group. If the Warriors win this championship it will be safe to call this a dynasty.
Klay Thompson’s Return Comes Full Circle
Klay Thompson’s return this season has officially come full circle. Thompson tore his ACL in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals and then re-injured himself causing him to sit out last season. It’s been a long road to recovery for Klay, but in his first season back he is going back to the NBA Finals. Klay has been up and down this post season, but we’ve seen him play some of his best ball in close out games and I expect him and Curry to have some vintage “Splash Brothers” games in the Finals.
The Golden State Warriors now will rest and then prepare to face either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals starting Thursday June 2nd.