The Golden State Warriors were the last team to win back-to-back NBA championships but they weren’t able to pull it off for the second time here.
The Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games and after the series, head coach Steve Kerr stated they maxed out and weren’t a championship team. Draymond Green agreed with his coach when talking on the subject on his podcast.
“It is hard to win back-to-back championships,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show. “Ultimately, your team has to get better to win back-to-back championships. I’m not sure this team got better, I’m not sure this was a better team. I knew this wasn’t a better team than we had last year… As a competitor, you do all that you can to try to make it happen and win and I think we did that. Like Steve (Kerr) said, it maxed out.”
(starts at 0:18 mark):
"Ultimately, your team has to get better to win back-to-back championships. I'm not sure this team got better… This wasn't a better team than we had last year… Like Steve [Kerr] said, it maxed out."
Draymond Green on the Warriors
(via @TheVolumeSports)pic.twitter.com/Si0REoTurS
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 14, 2023
The Warriors just didn’t look right this whole season. Draymond punching Jordan Poole before the campaign started meant they kicked things off in the worst possible manner. They then struggled massively on the road and their young players didn’t develop as expected either.
Of the new arrivals, Donte DiVincenzo was really the only one to have a significant impact while the likes of JaMychal Green had their moments but weren’t quite good enough in the end. They weren’t able to properly replace individuals like Otto Porter Jr. either and all of that combined led to the campaign ending in disappointment.
A Pivotal Offseason Awaits The Warriors
This offseason might well determine if the Warriors dynasty is really dead or not. They have some tough decisions to make that will have a big impact on their future. First off, they reportedly will discuss a multi-year extension with Green who can be a free agent this summer if he opts out of his player option. Draymond said he wants to be a Warrior for life but he would be expecting a big contract.
Klay Thompson will also be a free agent next summer and a report indicated he was seeking a max extension this offseason. The Warriors, though, want him to take a pay cut if he does extend, something he might not be too keen on. Jonathan Kuminga, meanwhile, is seeking a bigger role and if he can’t get it, he’d want to leave as per reports. Golden State has to make a choice between the present and the future this offseason, as these two separate timelines just don’t work well together.
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