June 16, 2022. That is the date etched into the minds of every Dubs fan. If you're asking when was the last time Golden State won a championship, you're looking back to that emotional night at TD Garden in Boston. It wasn't just another trophy. It felt different. It was heavy.
Stephen Curry sat on the floor, head in his hands, tears actually hitting the hardwood. Most people thought the dynasty was dead. Finished. Buried under the weight of Kevin Durant’s departure and Klay Thompson’s devastating back-to-back injuries. But there they were, hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy for the fourth time in eight years. They beat the Boston Celtics in six games, proving that the trio of Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green still had enough gas in the tank to wreck the league's best defense.
The Long Road Back to the 2022 Title
The gap between their 2018 win and the 2022 title felt like a decade. It was a brutal stretch. You had the 2019 Finals where Klay went down with the ACL tear and KD ruptured his Achilles. Then came the "bottom of the barrel" years. The Warriors actually had the worst record in the NBA in 2020. Imagine going from five straight Finals appearances to winning only 15 games. It was a humbling reality check for a franchise that had spent years being the "villains" of the league.
People forget how much skepticism surrounded this roster. Andrew Wiggins was labeled a "bust" or an overpaid role player before Steve Kerr got ahold of him. Jordan Poole was spending time in the G-League. Critics said the game had passed the Warriors by. They said the league was too young, too athletic, and too big for the "Splash Brothers" to dominate again.
Why the Celtics Series Changed Everything
The 2022 Finals started poorly. The Warriors dropped Game 1 at home. They looked old. Honestly, for a minute there, it seemed like the Celtics' size and wingspan—led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown—would simply overwhelm them. But Game 4 changed the trajectory of the franchise's legacy.
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Curry’s 43-point performance in Boston is arguably the greatest game of his career. He put the team on his back. He was hitting shots from the logo, screaming at the crowd, and basically refusing to lose. It wasn't just about shooting; it was about the psychological warfare the Warriors have mastered over the last decade. They knew how to win. Boston, despite their talent, didn't yet.
Breaking Down the 2022 Championship Roster
It wasn't just the Big Three. That’s the mistake people make when analyzing when was the last time Golden State won a championship. They think it was just Steph being Steph.
Andrew Wiggins was the unsung hero. He guarded Tatum so tightly you’d think they were attached at the hip. He led the team in rebounds and blocks at various points. Then you had Kevon Looney. The man has "old man" knees but played every single game, grabbing offensive rebounds that demoralized the Celtics. Gary Payton II, coming off an elbow injury, provided the kind of spark-plug defense that turns a 5-point lead into a 12-point lead in ninety seconds.
- Stephen Curry: Finals MVP (finally)
- Klay Thompson: The "Game 6 Klay" legend lived on
- Andrew Wiggins: The defensive anchor and second-best player of the series
- Draymond Green: The emotional heartbeat and defensive mastermind
- Jordan Poole: The microwave scorer off the bench
What Has Happened Since That Night in Boston?
Since that 2022 victory, things have been... complicated. The "championship hangover" in 2023 was real. The chemistry was rocked before the season even started when Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole during a preseason practice. It leaked. The vibes were off. They struggled on the road all year and eventually fell to LeBron James and the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs.
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Then came the massive roster shifts. Jordan Poole was traded to Washington. Bob Myers, the architect of the dynasty, stepped down as GM. Chris Paul—a long-time rival—actually wore a Warriors jersey for a season, which still feels like a fever dream to most fans.
The biggest blow, however, came in the summer of 2024. Klay Thompson, one half of the greatest shooting duo in history, left for the Dallas Mavericks. It marked the end of an era. While the Warriors are still trying to build around Steph, the 2022 championship remains the "last dance" for that specific, legendary core.
The Significance of 2022 in NBA History
When we look at when was the last time Golden State won a championship, we have to acknowledge that the 2022 win validated the entire dynasty. If they had stayed at three rings, people would have said they only won because of Kevin Durant. By winning in 2022 without KD, Steph and Draymond proved their system was foundational. It wasn't a fluke or a "superteam" carry-job. It was a masterclass in basketball IQ and culture.
The Warriors showed the league that you don't always need the youngest or most athletic roster if you have the best chemistry. They exploited every mistake the Celtics made. They played "beautiful game" basketball, moving the ball until the defense collapsed.
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Looking Forward: Can They Do It Again?
The window is closing. Fast. Curry is still playing at an All-NBA level, but the supporting cast is in flux. Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski represent the "new guard," but transitioning from a dynasty to a contender with a young core is notoriously difficult. The Western Conference is a bloodbath now with the Thunder, Mavs, and Timberwolves all looking like giants.
If you’re a fan, you’re holding onto that 2022 memory tightly. It was the "I told you so" championship. It was the one that silenced the haters.
Practical Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to commemorate the last time the Warriors were on top, here's what you should actually look for:
- The "Night Night" Merchandise: Curry’s iconic celebration started during this run. Authentic gear from that specific 2022 post-season is the peak of the era's memorabilia.
- Game 4 Replays: If you want to understand Warriors basketball, don't watch the highlights. Watch the full fourth quarter of Game 4 of the 2022 Finals. It’s a clinic in high-pressure execution.
- The Wiggins Factor: Watch how the team utilized a "3-and-D" wing to perfection. It’s the blueprint they are trying to replicate today.
The Golden State Warriors haven't hoisted the trophy since that night in June 2022. Whether they ever will again with Stephen Curry is the biggest question in the NBA right now. For now, the 2022 banner hangs in the Chase Center as a reminder that you should never, ever count out a group of champions who know how to suffer together before they win together.
To stay updated on the current roster moves and how the Warriors are positioning themselves for another run, keep an eye on the official NBA transaction logs and the latest injury reports for the veteran core. Understanding the salary cap implications of the new collective bargaining agreement is also vital, as it directly impacts how the Warriors can build around Curry in his final elite years.