Honestly, if you looked at the NBA landscape back in 2020, you would’ve bet the farm against the Golden State Warriors ever touching a trophy again. They were at rock bottom. 15 wins. Dead last in the league. People were calling the dynasty dead, buried, and cremated. But then 2022 happened.
So, who won the NBA championship in 2022? The Golden State Warriors. They didn't just win it; they basically snatched the soul out of a young, hungry Boston Celtics team in six games. It was a 4-2 series victory that felt like a "we’re still here" statement to the rest of the world.
The Series That Changed the Narrative
The 2022 NBA Finals wasn't just another series. It was a legacy-defining moment for Stephen Curry. For years, critics had this annoying talking point: "Steph doesn't have a Finals MVP." They used it to keep him out of the Top 10 all-time lists.
Well, he silenced that for good.
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Curry was nuclear. He averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. The Celtics' defense was statistically one of the best we’d seen in a decade, led by Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. They tried everything—dropping, switching, double-teaming—and Steph just cooked them anyway.
Game 4: The Night Everything Flipped
If there is one game you need to remember from this run, it’s Game 4 in Boston. The Warriors were down 2-1 in the series. If they lose that game, they go down 3-1, and history says they’re probably cooked.
Steph went into TD Garden and dropped 43 points and 10 rebounds. It was one of those "I am not losing this" performances. He was screaming at the crowd, hitting impossible 30-footers, and just willing the team to a 107-97 win. That game broke the Celtics' spirit. You could see it.
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Why the 2022 Warriors Were Different
It wasn't just the "Big Three" (Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green). This title was built on some unexpected shoulders.
- Andrew Wiggins: This guy was the "bust" from Minnesota. Nobody thought he had "winning player" in him. But in these Finals, he was the second-best player on the floor. He locked down Jayson Tatum, holding the Celtics star to some truly ugly shooting nights. Wiggins also led both teams in rebounds for the series. Think about that. A wing out-rebounding the centers.
- Jordan Poole: He was the "Poole Party" spark plug. His half-court buzzer-beater in Game 5 was a backbreaker.
- Kevon Looney: The unsung hero who just kept grabbing offensive boards and giving the Warriors extra possessions.
The Celtics, led by Tatum and Jaylen Brown, were younger and more athletic. They actually blew the Warriors out in Game 1 with a massive fourth-quarter comeback. But they couldn't handle the Warriors' experience. The turnovers eventually killed Boston—they had 23 of them in the clinching Game 6.
The Final Clincher
Game 6 was a masterclass. The Warriors went on a 21-0 run in the first half. A 21-0 run! In a closeout game! On the road!
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By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Steph was pointing to his ring finger. He knew. The final score was 103-90. When the buzzer sounded, Curry was in tears on the floor. It was the first time he'd won a title since Kevin Durant left, and it proved that the core of the dynasty didn't need a "superteam" to win. They just needed each other.
What This Means for Your NBA Trivia
If you're looking for the quick facts to settle a bet, here they are:
- Winner: Golden State Warriors (4th title in 8 years, 7th overall).
- Runner-up: Boston Celtics.
- Finals MVP: Stephen Curry (unanimous).
- Key Stat: The Warriors became the first team to go from the worst record in the NBA to a championship within a three-season span.
Next Steps for NBA Fans
If you want to understand why that 2022 win still matters today, go back and watch the highlights of Andrew Wiggins in Game 5. Most people focus on the scoring, but his defensive footwork on Tatum is a clinic for any young player. You should also check out the "Point Forward" podcast episodes where Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner break down the locker room vibes during that run. It gives you a much better perspective on how close that team actually was to falling apart before they found their groove.
Look at the shooting splits too. Steph shot 43.7% from three on nearly 12 attempts per game. That level of efficiency under that much pressure is basically unheard of. If you're building a "greatest playoff runs" list, 2022 Steph belongs near the very top.