I still remember the first time I watched the Golden State Warriors play in the NBA Finals back in 2015 - that series against the Cleveland Cavaliers felt like witnessing basketball history in the making. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've seen dynasties rise and fall, but what the Warriors have accomplished in recent years is truly remarkable. Their championship journey represents one of the most fascinating transformations in modern sports, evolving from a struggling franchise to a basketball powerhouse that redefined how the game is played.
The Warriors' championship era truly began with their 2015 victory, which ended a 40-year championship drought for the franchise. I recall watching Stephen Curry receive his first Finals MVP award, thinking how this team had completely revolutionized basketball with their three-point shooting. That 2015 team went 67-15 in the regular season, a record that still impresses me when I look back. What made that championship particularly special was how they blended traditional basketball fundamentals with this new analytical approach to shooting - it was like watching chess masters who happened to be incredible athletes. The following season they achieved what I consider one of the most impressive regular season records in NBA history, going 73-9, though they ultimately fell short in the Finals against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Their 2017 and 2018 championships created what many fans, including myself, consider a modern dynasty. With the addition of Kevin Durant, the Warriors became virtually unstoppable, winning back-to-back titles against the Cavaliers. I've never seen a team with such offensive firepower - during the 2017 playoffs, they went 16-1, which remains the best postseason record in NBA history. The 2018 championship felt particularly significant because it cemented their legacy as one of the greatest teams ever assembled. After Durant's departure and dealing with significant injuries, including Klay Thompson missing two full seasons, many doubted they could return to championship form. I'll admit I was among the skeptics, thinking their championship window had closed.
Which makes their 2022 championship perhaps the most impressive of all. Watching them defeat the Boston Celtics in six games felt like a storybook ending to their journey. At 34, Curry delivered one of the greatest Finals performances I've ever witnessed, averaging 31.2 points per game and finally earning that elusive Finals MVP award. What struck me most about this championship was how different it felt from their previous ones - this wasn't the superteam of 2017, but rather a testament to organizational resilience and player development. Jordan Poole emerged as a legitimate star, Andrew Wiggins transformed his game, and their young players stepped up when it mattered most.
Looking at their entire championship timeline, what stands out to me isn't just the number of titles but how each championship tells a different story about basketball evolution. From their early Philadelphia days winning the 1947 championship to the recent Bay Area dominance, the Warriors' journey reflects the changing nature of the sport itself. Their six NBA championships place them third all-time behind only the Celtics and Lakers, but I'd argue their impact on how basketball is played today surpasses even that impressive statistic. As someone who's studied basketball history, I believe future generations will look back at this Warriors era as a pivotal moment when the three-point revolution truly took hold of the league.