Everyone remembers where they were when Kevin Durant made that shot in Game 3. You know the one. Over LeBron James. Just a cold, pull-up three that basically ended the season and cemented the 2016 2017 Golden State Warriors as an untouchable juggernaut. It wasn't just basketball; it was a demolition.
Honestly, the league was broken. Fans were mad. Critics called it "unfair." But if you actually look at how that team moved the ball, it was art.
Coming off a 73-win season that ended in heartbreak—thanks to a Draymond Green suspension, a Bogut injury, and LeBron’s "The Block"—the Warriors didn't just lick their wounds. They went out and got one of the greatest scorers in the history of the sport. Adding Durant to a core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond was like adding a jet engine to a Ferrari.
The Math Behind the 16-1 Playoff Run
People forget how close they came to a perfect postseason. They went 16-1. Their only loss was a weird Game 4 in the Finals where the Cavs hit a record-breaking 24 threes. If Cleveland doesn't have a literal statistical anomaly of a night, the 2016 2017 Golden State Warriors go 16-0.
Think about that.
They swept the Blazers. They swept the Jazz. They swept the Spurs—though Kawhi Leonard’s injury in Game 1 definitely changed that series. Still, the point differential was staggering. They weren't just winning; they were demoralizing professional athletes.
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The offense was the headline, but the defense was the secret sauce. Draymond Green won Defensive Player of the Year for a reason. He was the middle linebacker of a switching scheme that terrified people. You had Klay Thompson chasing guards through screens, Durant using his 7-foot wingspan to protect the rim, and Steph playing passing lanes like a free safety.
Steve Kerr’s motion offense relied on "gravity." That’s a word people use a lot now, but back then, it was revolutionary. Because Steph and Klay were such threats from 30 feet out, defenders had to hug them. This opened up the paint for easy dunks and layups. Adding Durant meant you couldn't double-team anyone. Who do you leave open? You're basically choosing how you want to die.
The "Death Lineup" Evolves
We used to talk about the "Hamptons Five." That lineup—Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant, and Green—was statistically the most devastating five-man unit in NBA history. When Kerr flipped the switch and went small, games ended in six-minute spurts.
They’d be down by four, and then suddenly, after a flurry of fast breaks and corner threes, they’d be up by 18. It happened so fast you’d miss it if you went to the kitchen for a snack.
Why the 2016 2017 Golden State Warriors Still Matter Today
The NBA changed forever because of this specific year. Before this, teams still tried to play traditional big men. After the 2016 2017 Golden State Warriors destroyed the league, every GM in the country started looking for "three-and-D" wings. If you couldn't switch on defense and shoot from deep, you were basically unplayable.
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It wasn't just about the talent. It was the sacrifice.
Steph Curry, a back-to-back MVP, took fewer shots to accommodate Durant. KD stopped being a ball-stopper and became a playmaker. Klay... well, Klay just did Klay things, like scoring 60 points on 11 dribbles (though that was earlier in the season, it defined the vibe).
Many people argue that the '96 Bulls or the '01 Lakers could beat them. Honestly? It's a fun bar debate, but the math favors the Dubs. The 2017 squad shot 38.3% from three as a team. They led the league in assists by a mile, averaging over 30 per game. The ball never stuck.
Breaking Down the Regular Season
They finished 67-15. It felt "boring" compared to the 73-win run, but they were actually better. They had the #1 offensive rating (115.6) and the #2 defensive rating (104.0).
There was a stretch where Durant went down with a knee injury in late February. Everyone thought the sky was falling. Instead, the Warriors won 13 games in a row. Steph Curry reminded everyone that he was still the engine. When Durant came back for the playoffs, they were a refined, angry machine.
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The Cultural Impact of the Superteam Era
The hate was real. You couldn't go on Twitter without seeing "cupcake" memes or people complaining about the parity of the league. But looking back, we were witnessing the peak of basketball IQ.
Watch the tape of Game 5 of the 2017 Finals. The ball movement is dizzying. There’s a play where the ball touches four different hands in three seconds before a wide-open Durant dunk. That’s not just talent; that’s chemistry that usually takes a decade to build. They did it in months.
Even the role players were overqualified. Shaun Livingston’s mid-range turnaround was automatic. David West was a bruiser who could pass like a point guard. JaVale McGee went from a "Shaqtin' a Fool" legend to a legitimate vertical threat.
The 2016 2017 Golden State Warriors didn't just win a ring. They ended an era and started a new one. They forced LeBron James to play some of the best basketball of his life just to keep games competitive.
If you want to understand the modern NBA, you have to start here.
Actionable Insights for Students of the Game:
- Study the "Gravity" Effect: Go back and watch film specifically on how Steph Curry moves without the ball. Notice how two defenders often follow him to the perimeter, leaving the lane wide open for teammates.
- Analyze the Defensive Switching: Watch Draymond Green’s positioning. He rarely stays on one man for a full possession. Learning how to communicate through switches is the hallmark of modern elite defense.
- Value of Efficiency: This team proved that "volume" scoring is inferior to "efficient" scoring. They prioritized the best shot over the first shot, a lesson applicable to any competitive environment.
- The Power of Sacrifice: Whether in sports or business, the most talented groups only work if the "alpha" personalities are willing to share the spotlight for a common goal. Curry’s willingness to share the floor with Durant is the ultimate blueprint for leadership.
Total dominance. That’s the only way to describe it. The 2017 Warriors weren't just a team; they were a shift in the sporting universe. No matter how many superstars team up in the future, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see that specific blend of prime-age talent and unselfishness again.