The Golden State Warriors had an incredible run in 2014-15 to clinch the first NBA title of the Splash Brothers era. The Warriors went through the Western Conference before meeting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, a series they managed to win in 6 games. And while the run was powered by their incredible team play and some stellar shooting, many fans felt the Warriors got quite a few favorable whistles from the referees at that time.
Now, complaining about the refs when another team wins is something that fans of other teams will always do, but it’s not always that a player admits that the calls they received were generous. However, Andrew Bogut, who was a key player for GSW during their initial runs recently admitted on the ‘Ryen Russillo Podcast’ that some of the screens he set would usually have been called for fouls otherwise.
“One thing that was crazy about that run was the shit that I used to get away with screening, man it was all time. I knew if I was in Milwaukee and I set that I’d foul out in the first quarter, but playing in Golden State, when they started to become that underdog team that was building up, I knew once Steph or Klay got hot, the refs would be in the moment as well.
“I could literally clothesline someone off the next pindown, I know Klay just hit 3 in a row, the crowd’s on their feet as he’s getting his 4th and I could punch somebody in the face on a screen, knock em out and they wouldn’t call it. Klay would get his 4th 3, and even the refs would go ‘Wow’ (and ignore it), it was crazy.
“Then I get traded to Dallas to set those same screens and I’d get 3 fouls in the first quarter, It was just crazy with the stuff I used to get away with there.”
This admission doesn’t mean much nearly 7 years after Bogut has left the Warriors but it is vindication for some of the teams they beat during that time. The Warriors won 3 championships in 4 years, 1 with Bogut and 2 without, and while a lot of that was about how good they were, it seems even the players know that they did get some favorable calls.
