The Golden State Warriors’ decade-long dominance is a chapter in NBA history that few will ever rival. With four championships since 2015, no other team has even come close, failing to win more than two in the same period.
The Warriors didn’t just change the game of basketball; they redefined what it means to play team-first basketball in the modern era.
Leading a dynasty
“The Dubs” won’t have a dynasty to brag about if they didn’t make a draft decision that changed everything. They picked an undersized point guard from Davidson College with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft, Stephen Curry.
At the time, he wasn’t seen as a sure bet. The Warriors already had Monta Ellis, their established shooting guard; many believed Curry wouldn’t be able to thrive in the same backcourt.
However, Steph didn’t come in demanding the spotlight. Instead, he bided his time, learned the game, and seized his opportunities when they came. By 2012, the Warriors had made a pivotal move by trading Ellis, fully handing the keys to Curry.
From there, Steph became not only the leader but the face of the franchise. Over the years, he remained humble, even as his name grew synonymous with success.
His former teammate, Andre Iguodala, who played a critical role in the Warriors’ rise, shared what made Curry so unique.
“I’ll never forget what DeMarcus Cousins said, ‘You are the only superstar that I’ve ever seen who has not asked for anything. You don’t want anything; you don’t want the day off; you don’t want any special treatment; you don’t ask for anything,'” Iguodala said. “And Steph’s just like, ‘I don’t know, this is just regular; I just like playing basketball with y’all; this is just normal. So I like this is just normal, so he’s setting the tone; people don’t understand that sets the tone; when your best player can set the tone in that way, everyone else just follows, and obviously, you’re building the right pieces around it; you got to get lucky.”
SC’s humility was the cornerstone of the Warriors’ success. It allowed a roster of talented players to gel seamlessly, with each individual putting the team above their accolades.
His leadership style
Ego never played a part in No. 30’s success. In an era where personal branding often overshadows teamwork, the “Baby Faced Assassin” let his actions do the talking. He shattered records, becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, yet he didn’t flaunt his dominance. Instead, he focused on building a culture that prioritized unity and effort. Iguodala placed Curry in an elite category of notable leaders.
“I think it needs to start from the top; I put Tim Duncan in that category. Steph Curry, I got to think through historically any other guys who won four more championships, three or more championships, and they were the best players on the team, and ego and persona weren’t a part of their DNA, and so when people came in, once you start building a dynasty, you start building great teams. Now you get really good talent who are willing to accept loss to change the perception of their careers,” Iguodala said.
This leadership style was instrumental in the Warriors attracting and retaining talent. The likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green thrived under Curry’s lead, willingly sacrificing individual statistics for collective success.
