The Golden State Warriors finally reached their dynastic destination back in 2018 winning three NBA championships in four years.
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The last decade of the NBA was undoubtedly dominated by the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs boasted a stacked team led by a great coach in the form of Steve Kerr. The team played in a very unorthodox way and different from the principles of old-school basketball.
On this date in 2018, the Dubs were crowned @NBA Champions for the third time in four years. ? pic.twitter.com/kH9T6jBi2o
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 8, 2020
The Golden State Warriors revolutionized the game of basketball. Their unselfish style of play that revolved around three-point shooting was something the league had never seen before.
On this day in 2018, the Golden State Warriors finally reached their dynastic destination. Three NBA championships in four years, the third coming in a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors won 108-85 at Quicken Loans Arena, becoming just the ninth team to sweep their way to an NBA Finals trophy.
? The 2017 NBA Champions. The Golden State Warriors lift The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy! #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/zvOYy7aMlw
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) June 13, 2017
The journey to this title was more precarious than the first two for coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors. They overcame injuries, expectations, a Championship contender in Houston Rockets team and the brilliance of LeBron James.
The Warriors began their title defence as a No. 2 seed. Their season was in serious jeopardy when they fell behind 3-2 to James Harden and the Rockets. But Golden State caught a break when Houston star guard Chris Paul was forced to sit out with a hamstring injury. They showed incredible poise by winning two straight games after that.
Incidentally all three of their championships have come against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, with the series-clincher coming in Cleveland for the second time.
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Congratulations to the @warriors, 2017-18 NBA Champions! ?#NBAFinals | #DubNation pic.twitter.com/ly44K8AwCl
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 9, 2018
The sweep was the second in Warriors history, replicating their 1975 feat and the first in the NBA since the Cavaliers were beaten in four straight games by the San Antonio Spurs in 2007.
Stephen Curry poured in 37 points, including 20 in the first half. This helped Golden State capture its third championship in the four-year Steve Kerr coaching era.
During the 2016 offseason, Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, which made the team stronger than ever. He was heavily criticized for joining the Warriors, to whom he had just lost to in the Western Conference finals.
Durant proved his critics wrong when the Warriors went on to become back-to-back champions in 2017 and 2018 and Kevin Durant was crowned Finals MVP both times.
Durant got his first Finals triple-double of his career with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. It was Durant’s 28th consecutive playoff game with 20 or more points.
Kevin Durant posted his 1st career #NBAFinals triple-double with 20 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST to help the @Warriors become 2017-2018 NBA Champions! KD is the 5th player in NBA history to produce a 20-point triple-double in a Finals-clinching victory. #SAPStatLineOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/4UBB5nAmdB
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) June 9, 2018
It was another disappointing postseason for LeBron. He wanted to move and try elsewhere. Teams from Philadelphia to Los Angeles were hoping to land the three-time champion.
James scored 51 points in the series opener and carried a Cavs team from the start till end. He averaged 34 points, 8.5 rebounds and 10 assists in the series but has been the case in the past, he didn’t have enough help.
The BEST of Kevin Durant and LeBron James in the first two games of the 2017 #NBAFinals
Game 3: 9pm/et on ABC! pic.twitter.com/Kd5FO4xUIJ
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2017
The 33-year-old, came back to the Cavs and ended the city’s 52-year championship drought in 2016 and was looking move out. It was the second time in his career that James moved from his hometown team.
James left the Cavaliers as their leader in nearly every major category: games played, points, rebounds, assists and steals.
In came the Los Angeles Lakers, with one of the most anticipated moves of the NBA offseason. James signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James signs four-year, $154 million contract with Lakers: https://t.co/Z3QJyEpQmn pic.twitter.com/00DLVrN5OA
— Slate (@Slate) July 2, 2018
This was the first-time ever LeBron played for a Western Conference team. He had only played for Eastern Conference teams prior to that in his career.
Luckily for LeBron he won the NBA Championship with the LA Lakers in 2020.
