Draymond Inexperienced doesn’t hesitate when he hears the query. Trying again on the Golden State Warriors’ 2015-16 season a decade later, a easy thought pops into the now 36-year-old ahead’s thoughts.
“It’s fairly simple,” Inexperienced advised The Athletic. “We beat the s— outta everyone.”
Monday marks the tenth anniversary of the night time Inexperienced and the Warriors dominated the Memphis Grizzlies within the regular-season finale to safe their 73rd win. That mark nonetheless stands, and plenty of throughout the group imagine it all the time will.
“Earlier this season, I assumed OKC had an actual shot,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr advised The Athletic. “And also you simply see how troublesome it’s. One of many causes it could by no means be damaged is the tempo and the house of the fashionable recreation. It’s modified issues a lot, the damage and tear on everyone. The well being of the gamers, we monitor the gamers significantly better than we did again then. Guys are enjoying longer careers, however shorter seasons as a result of we’re ensuring we maintain them out in case they’ve obtained accidents. There’s loads that goes into it, however I simply don’t see anyone ever going 74-8. I simply don’t know the way it could be attainable.”
As Kerr, Inexperienced and Warriors star guard Stephen Curry replicate a decade later, the feelings are blended. They had been such a dominant staff all through the common season, nevertheless it didn’t finish with a title. The Warriors fell quick after LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers got here again from a 3-1 deficit within the NBA Finals to win a memorable Recreation 7 at Oracle Enviornment.
“I believe simply what an unimaginable accomplishment it was,” Kerr stated. “However as a result of we didn’t win the title, we’ll in all probability eternally stay underappreciated.”
What’s apparent about that 73rd win is simply how dominant Curry was within the second. He gained his second unanimous MVP that season and punctuated his marketing campaign with 46 factors in half-hour in opposition to the Grizzlies on April 13, 2016. And but, as he seems again, he admits that clinching the 73rd win that night time was not what was prime of thoughts.
“I used to be kinda mad,” Curry advised The Athletic. “As a result of I wished to observe Kobe’s final recreation. We knew what was at stake, however I wished to observe … I actually wished to observe Kob’s final recreation. Then, once I obtained out, I heard what occurred on the opposite aspect. I used to be like, “Oh my goodness. He scored 60? So I used to be excited, but additionally as a basketball fan, I felt like I obtained gypped on the identical time. An awesome expertise, although, for certain.”
The matchup.The celebrities concerned.The stakes.The drama.The historical past on the road.
After which… what a shot from Curry.
GSW vs. OKC, 10 years in the past right this moment… one of many biggest video games in NBA historical past! pic.twitter.com/la3Wsjlcia
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2026
On the identical night time that Bryant was scoring 60 factors in his retirement recreation, Curry hit his four-hundredth 3-pointer, ending with 402, one other document that also stands.
“It was nice for Steph Curry to interrupt 400 3s,” Inexperienced stated. “It was nice for Kobe Bryant to get 60 factors. It was hearth.”
The Warriors, who gained their first title of the Curry period the 12 months earlier than, rolled previous the Houston Rockets and the Portland Path Blazers within the first two rounds earlier than being on the verge of elimination in opposition to Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention finals. Klay Thompson’s iconic efficiency in Recreation 6 of that sequence — 41 factors and 11 3s — allowed the Warriors to return to Oracle, the place they closed out the sequence and superior to a second-straight finals.
Their Recreation 7 loss to Cleveland additionally modified the course of league historical past. Not solely did it give James his first championship in Cleveland — it opened up the door for Durant to hitch the Warriors as a free agent later that summer season. The transfer shifted the steadiness of energy within the league and led to 2 extra championships and three extra Finals appearances, forming one of the vital dominant trios ever with Durant alongside Curry and Thompson.
“It’s humorous,” Kerr stated. “I get individuals who say now in hindsight do you would like you had not gone for (the regular-season document) as a result of perhaps the playoff run would have been totally different? The reply’s no. There was no manner I used to be telling any of these guys they weren’t enjoying. However extra importantly, I don’t suppose profitable 73 had something to do with us dropping within the playoffs. I believe we performed two nice groups with Oklahoma Metropolis and Cleveland. There’s no disgrace in going to Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals after profitable 73 video games. In reality, it’s an unimaginable accomplishment. However what Cleveland did coming again was an exceptional feat in its personal proper. So that you tip your cap to them.”
There stays some lingering frustration that the Warriors weren’t in a position to shut out the Cavs and cement their place in historical past as the best staff of all time, surpassing Michael Jordan’s 1995-96 Chicago Bulls who went 72-10. However these closest to the group additionally acknowledge the rarity of what they completed.
“There’s nothing actually to reconcile,” Kerr stated. “It’s simply you look again at it, there’s some regret, remorse, nevertheless it’s all a part of sports activities. It’s all a part of all of us. You would additionally say we don’t get Kevin Durant if we win that sequence. And I believe that’s in all probability correct. So it performed out the way it performed out. It’s an unimaginable staff, and it capped an unimaginable two-year run for that staff.”
Inexperienced, who was famously suspended for Recreation 5 of the finals after kicking James beneath the belt the sport earlier than, echoed the same sentiment.
“There’s an appreciation,” Inexperienced stated. “As a result of though we didn’t win a championship, we continued to kill everyone … However that was kinda proper within the center, or perhaps only the start. There’s an appreciation as a result of it continued to simply run on.”
To Inexperienced’s level, the tip of the 2015-16 season wasn’t the end line, however a brand new starting. Durant signed and instantly delivered two NBA Finals MVPs over his subsequent two seasons. There’ll all the time be an appreciation for what the Warriors did in his three years, however many Warriors personnel replicate on these first two years of their reign atop the NBA with a way of pleasure provided that they began a historic run within the league that few ever thought would occur.
“Clearly, getting Kevin meant costing us Harrison (Barnes) and (Andrew Bogut),” Kerr stated. “So the staff shifted fairly a bit at that time. However these two years in my thoughts had been basketball nirvana. Simply an unimaginable group to educate.”
Does Inexperienced suppose that Durant in the end indicators with the Warriors if that they had gained their second-straight title that season?
“It’s an excellent hypothetical,” Inexperienced stated. “Who is aware of? Perhaps. However what’s for sure is we continued to beat the s– outta everyone.”
Kerr has his personal tackle the scenario, however doesn’t dwell on it.
“My guess is that he wouldn’t have come,” Kerr stated. “However you’d need to ask him, who is aware of? All these hypotheticals, you’ll be able to play this recreation for each staff, each championship staff, each staff that loses within the finals. There’s all these what-ifs. And what-ifs dot the historical past of sports activities. In case you’re concerned with it you actually don’t spend a variety of time attempting to reply what-if, you simply acknowledge the what-if and you progress ahead.”
Inexperienced stated he has by no means requested Durant that query.
“Nope,” Inexperienced stated. “As a result of it’s irrelevant. We continued to beat the s— out of everyone with Kev, so nope.”
Finally after some inner debate, the Warriors selected to honor their 73-win season with a banner at their facility, itemizing each participant’s title from that staff.
“(Basic supervisor) Bob (Myers) and I felt very strongly that it belonged up there,” Kerr stated. “My guess is that Draymond would in all probability let you know that it shouldn’t be up there, however for one of many solely instances ever, we gained over Draymond, I suppose.”
Kerr laughs now on the reminiscence, however stays steadfast within the honor of what the group completed.
“I don’t even know if that’s true,” Kerr stated. “He would possibly truly say it does belong up there, I’m guessing, however it’s a must to acknowledge that. It’s such an incredible accomplishment. One that may in all probability by no means be overwhelmed … these guys on that banner need to be honored for all times.”
