Former NBA player says the dynasty may be over for the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors have achieved amazing success over the past 10 years, but nothing lasts forever in the NBA. From Michael Jordan and the ’90s Bulls to the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, every great team has seen its end, either due to injuries, age, or other more complicated factors.
In the case of the Golden State Warriors, they are showing no signs at all of slowing down after winning their fourth championship in 2022, but one has to think that the end is a lot closer than the beginning. “As long as you have Steph Curry, you have a chance, but in the same way that we talked about LeBron James running out of steam last year in the playoffs, you could make that same argument for Klay Thompson,” said former NBA champion Antonio Daniels. “He ran out of steam as well and if Klay Thompson isn’t Klay Thompson, they ain’t winning… their championship window is closing.”
On paper, the Warriors still have one of the most talented and experienced rosters in the league but the stars are getting older now and they no longer have the depth they once did. In previous years, they could rely on getting a boost from their supporting cast, which included guys like Andre Iguodala, Matt Barnes, and Shaun Livingston among others. Heading into this next season, however, their big acquisition is 38-year-old Chris Paul, who is rumored to be starting alongside Steph and Klay.
Klay Is The Key
Klay Thompson is one of the core members of the Warriors dynasty, and he was with them from the very beginning. Initially, Thompson was nearly as effective as Steph on the floor as a knockdown shooter and more than capable defender. But after suffering an ACL tear in 2019 and an Achilles tear after that, he was never the same again.
Last season, while Klay had plenty of highlight moments, he struggled to stay efficient, with a 43% shooting mark on his shooting. Predictably, it’s the defensive side where Thompson suffered the most. He hasn’t been nearly the same on that end since the 2019 Finals, and it’s caused major problems for the Warriors.
Unless Klay can return to form or at least improve his performance somewhat, the Warriors may never return to the heights they achieved just a few years ago. Depending on who you ask, however, that outcome is far from a guarantee.
Draymond Says They Are Not Done Yet
It’s no surprise that those within the Warriors are feeling confident about their future. According to veteran swingman Draymond Green, his team can win multiple more championships before it’s all said and done. “I don’t see anything in the way stopping that,” Green said. “There are great players in the NBA, but I don’t see anything stopping us from getting two more championships… so why not?”
It’s hard to count the Warriors out as long as Stephen Curry is healthy, and we saw how powerful he was last season when he pretty much single-handedly kept their season alive amid all the ups and downs. If Steph can channel that same energy into next season, and use it alongside Draymond, Klay, and Chris Paul, it may very well be enough to launch the Warriors back to the top.
For now, however, Golden State still has something to prove after their series loss to the 7th-seeded Lakers. Hopefully, they’ll get a chance for a rematch next season with everybody at full strength.
