SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr doesn’t suppose there’s “any manner” one other group goes to interrupt the Golden State Warriors’ document of 73 regular-season wins set within the 2015-16 season.
“I bear in mind on the time I assumed, ‘No manner,’” Kerr mentioned earlier than Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets. “After which, a couple of month in the past, I assumed it could be damaged. And now, I don’t suppose there’s any manner anyone’s gonna break it once more. It’s such a tough factor, however Oklahoma Metropolis seemed like they have been on their strategy to doing it. However the motive it’s so arduous is simply you must have good well being — you must have some luck. And most groups most likely aren’t going to push themselves that tough to get there. It’s so tough. My guess is it gained’t be damaged.”
Kerr spoke concerning the record-setting season after a reporter talked about to him that there was a latest social media development to look again on moments from 10 years in the past. The Warriors went 73-9 throughout the 2016 marketing campaign, however finally misplaced Sport 7 of the NBA Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers after main the sequence 3-1. Kerr mentioned that although he stays very happy with the accomplishment, the document, and the season, isn’t one thing the group discusses.
“By no means,” Kerr mentioned. “Now we have a banner hanging within the facility commemorating the document, and, aside from that, we by no means speak about it. It’s an unimaginable accomplishment. I imply, simply beautiful to consider profitable that many video games. I believe my favourite stat from that entire stretch was — we went like 135 video games with out dropping two in a row.
“As a result of dropping two in a row on this league, it’s nearly inevitable. Simply given the way in which the schedule pans out and accidents, all the things else. So, to go 130-odd video games with out dropping two in a row was simply beautiful. So, I’m actually proud to be a part of that group, however I don’t spend a complete lot of time trying again at it.”
The streak Kerr referenced practically spanned two seasons, lasting 146 video games. Golden State grew to become the primary group in NBA historical past to go a complete season (in 2015-16) with out back-to-back losses. The streak ended when the Warriors misplaced Feb. 28, 2017, in opposition to the Washington Wizards and once more March 2, 2017, in opposition to the Chicago Bulls.
That 2015-16 Warriors group completed with some extent differential of plus-822, which, on the time, was the sixth-highest mark in league historical past, in response to Basketball Reference. It’s now ninth in historical past.
The Thunder, who, just like the Warriors did in 2015-16, began this season 24-1, set a document of plus-1,055 in 2024-25. After that record-tying begin to the season, the Thunder entered Saturday night time’s motion with a 35-7 document, however they’re nonetheless on tempo to interrupt final season’s mark for level differential. This season, Oklahoma Metropolis is outscoring opponents by a median of 13.4 factors per recreation in contrast with final season’s determine of 12.9.
Kerr recalled a narrative about how severely the gamers have been taking the brand new achievement whereas that season was wrapping up.
“There’s no regrets. That’s for positive,” Kerr mentioned. “I bear in mind we had a recreation, we have been in Memphis late within the 12 months, and I used to be taking part in lots of people within the first half. It was an in depth recreation at halftime. I believe I performed 11, 12 folks. Draymond (Inexperienced) got here to me at halftime and mentioned, ‘Coach, all of us need this. Don’t fiddle. Let’s go get this.’ That was the mentality of the group.
“We gained that recreation, and I believe we gained our final two or no matter to interrupt the document. It’s an unimaginable accomplishment. There’s no manner that we have been gonna, at any level in that season, simply say, ‘No, we’re not gonna play arduous this recreation. We’re gonna relaxation.’ It simply wasn’t even a thought.”
Kerr has a singular perspective on record-setting seasons as a result of he performed for the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who went 72-10 and set the single-season customary earlier than his Warriors group broke the mark 20 years later. Nonetheless, he mentioned he didn’t want the advantage of time to know how tough the psychological toll these sorts of seasons tackle a bunch.
“It doesn’t even require trying again at it,” Kerr mentioned. “It’s simply being in any NBA season as a participant or as a coach. You simply know. You are feeling the pressure of the marathon that the 82-game season represents. There’s simply too many issues that may occur that throw you off for a recreation or two. Then, it’s gone. It’s type of loopy that it even occurred, actually.”
