I still get chills thinking about that 2017 NBA Championship run. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've witnessed numerous championship stories unfold, but there's something particularly magical about how the Golden State Warriors reclaimed their throne that year. What struck me most wasn't just their dominance—it was how they embodied that beautiful phrase about glory and perseverance birthing an unrivaled winning tradition. You could see it in every possession, every defensive rotation, every clutch shot.
Let me take you back to those finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors finished the regular season with an incredible 67-15 record, but what truly amazed me was their playoff performance—they went 16-1, setting the record for the highest winning percentage in playoff history. I remember watching Game 1 and thinking Cleveland actually had a chance when they kept it close until the final minutes. Then Kevin Durant hit that dagger three-pointer over LeBron James with 45 seconds left, and you just knew—this was going to be different from their 2016 collapse. Durant averaged 35.2 points throughout the series, but what impressed me more was his defensive commitment, something critics often overlooked about his game.
The way Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson sacrificed shots for the greater good reminded me why this team felt so special. Curry's numbers dipped slightly from his unanimous MVP season, yet his impact grew because he understood something crucial—greatness isn't about individual stats, but about creating something lasting. That's where that "unrivaled winning tradition" truly manifested. Game 3 stands out in my memory, when the Warriors erased a 6-point deficit in the final three minutes through sheer defensive intensity. Draymond Green's versatility was on full display—he became the first player in finals history to record a triple-double without scoring 10 points, finishing with 9 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.
What many casual fans forget is how much mental fortitude this required after their heartbreaking 2016 loss. I've always believed that the best teams aren't defined by their victories alone, but by how they respond to defeat. The Warriors could have fractured after blowing a 3-1 lead the previous year, but instead they added Durant while deepening their commitment to their system. Their ball movement was poetry in motion—averaging 30.4 assists per game in the finals, nearly 8 more than Cleveland. When I rewatch those highlights, what stands out isn't the flashy dunks but the extra passes, the defensive communication, the little things that championship teams do.
Game 5's closing moments perfectly encapsulated their journey. With about 50 seconds remaining and the championship secured, you could see the raw emotion on Steve Kerr's face as he embraced his assistants. Having covered basketball since 2005, I've rarely seen a coach and team so perfectly aligned. The final score was 129-120, but the numbers don't capture how methodically Golden State dismantled Cleveland's defense. LeBron averaged a triple-double for the series (33.6 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), yet felt completely overwhelmed by the Warriors' collective brilliance.
Looking back, what made the 2017 Warriors extraordinary wasn't just their talent—it was their understanding of legacy. They played with the awareness that they were building something that would be remembered decades later. That "unrivaled winning tradition" they established continues to influence how modern basketball is played, with teams now prioritizing spacing, ball movement, and versatility above all else. As someone who's analyzed basketball across different eras, I'd argue they revolutionized the game more than any team since the Showtime Lakers.
The celebration after Game 5 felt different from other championships I've witnessed. There was joy, certainly, but also a sense of completion—like they'd fulfilled a destiny that had been interrupted the year before. When Andre Iguodala said during the trophy ceremony that this was for everyone who doubted them, you felt the weight of their journey. They didn't just win a championship; they restored order to their universe while setting a new standard for excellence. Even now, watching those highlights transports me back to witnessing basketball perfection—the kind that comes not from individual brilliance alone, but from collective purpose forged through adversity. That's the legacy that continues to inspire the next generation of players and teams striving for greatness.
