Ayrton Oneill
The Golden State Warriors are one of the best teams in NBA history, with eight championship wins since their inaugural season in 1946. The Warriors have been credited with changing the way basketball is played, with some arguing that they kickstarted a three-point revolution in basketball. Before the Warriors, the three-point shot was seen as a side dish, but the Warriors, and specifically Steph Curry, made it the main course by creating space and getting open threes as a primary option. The Warriors' success has been attributed to their dynamic offense, with players like Curry and Klay Thompson, and their head coach, Steve Kerr, a five-time NBA champion and the all-time career record holder for accuracy in three-point shooting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Steve Kerr |
| Key Players | Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins |
| Style of Play | Small-ball, switch-heavy defense, lots of 3s, high-paced and high-intensity offense |
| Impact | Revolutionized offense by shooting 3s, made the three-point shot bigger, popularized small-ball style of play |
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What You'll Learn
Steph Curry's influence
Steph Curry is widely regarded as the greatest shooter of all time and has been credited with revolutionizing basketball. Curry, along with coach Steve Kerr, transformed the way the game is played by making the three-point shot the centerpiece of their offensive strategy. Before the Warriors, the three-point shot was considered a "side dish" to the main course. Curry and the Warriors were the first to turn it into the "main course" by creating space and making the three-pointer their primary option on almost every possession.
Curry's scoring creates a "gravity" effect that forces opposing defenders to double-team him, creating mismatches that his teammates can exploit. With Curry on the court, the Warriors average 10.8 isolations per game, compared to 15.3 without him. His presence increases the team's scoring efficiency, and his ability to shoot from deep forces defenders to guard him at the half-court line, allowing the Warriors to run their offense with more freedom. Curry's influence has inspired a league-wide transition from physical play around the basket to a "pace and space" approach that emphasizes three-point shooting. This has been dubbed "the Steph Effect" or "the NBA's Three-Point Revolution."
Curry's impact on the Warriors' success is undeniable. He is a four-time NBA champion and played a pivotal role in the Warriors' dynasty, helping them win three championships in four seasons. His relatively inexpensive contract in 2012 also allowed the Warriors to retain a strong core of players around him. Curry's influence extends beyond his team, as he has inspired other players to improve their shooting abilities, such as Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who credited Curry for his evolution into an elite shooter after working with him during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In summary, Steph Curry's influence on the Warriors and the NBA as a whole has been profound. He has revolutionized offensive strategies, elevated the importance of the three-point shot, and inspired a new era of basketball focused on pace, space, and shooting. Curry's impact on the court, combined with his talent and skill set, solidifies his place as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
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Steve Kerr's coaching
Steve Kerr is a highly successful basketball coach, currently the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, and previously a highly successful player. He is known for his quiet leadership style, allowing his players to have a voice and emphasising that everyone's opinion is important. He also focuses on the process that drives performance, rather than the outcome, and is unafraid to delegate leadership.
Kerr's coaching style is heavily influenced by his own experiences as a player. He is a nine-time NBA champion, winning five times as a player and four as a head coach. He is also known as one of the most accurate three-point shooters in NBA history, and his own experience as a player has informed his coaching style. He has also borrowed from other coaches, taking elements of the triangle offence from his playing days in Chicago under Phil Jackson, the spacing and pace of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, and the up-tempo principles of Mike D'Antoni and Alvin Gentry in Phoenix.
Kerr's coaching is also notable for his focus on individual players and their development. For example, he has been praised for his handling of Steph Curry, focusing on the positives of his game and emphasising the small things he does to help the team, rather than demanding improved performance in terms of scoring. This approach has been credited with helping Curry feel a sense of joy while playing, which has spread to the rest of the team.
Kerr's approach to leadership is also notable for his belief in allowing leadership to develop organically, rather than choosing a leader himself. He also emphasises that coaches are there to help and guide players, rather than control them. This approach has been credited with helping to create a culture of collaboration and mutual respect within the team.
Overall, Steve Kerr's coaching has been instrumental in the success of the Golden State Warriors, helping them reach the NBA Finals six times and win four championships. His quiet leadership, focus on process, and ability to develop individual players have been key factors in his coaching style.
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The three-point revolution
The Golden State Warriors are credited with changing the game of basketball, with some specifically attributing this to their star player, Steph Curry. The Warriors' innovative playing style, led by Curry and coached by Steve Kerr, revolutionised the offensive game by making the three-point shot the "main course" rather than a "side dish".
Before the Warriors, the three-point shot was not a primary focus of offensive strategies. However, with the exceptional shooting ability of Curry, the Warriors were able to build their offense around creating space and getting open three-point shots as a primary option during almost every possession. This playing style was so effective that other teams were forced to adapt and start shooting more three-pointers themselves.
Curry's skill as a shooter was such that defenders had to guard him from the half-court mark, which was unheard of before. This gave Curry and his teammates more space to run their offensive plays and get open shots. The Warriors' success with this style of play popularised the use of the three-point shot and changed the way basketball is played at all levels of the game.
In addition to Curry, the Warriors had other key players who contributed to their success and the three-point revolution. Klay Thompson, another exceptional shooter, and Draymond Green, a versatile forward, were also crucial to the Warriors' dynamic offense. The Warriors' success with their three-point-centric offense influenced other teams to adopt similar playing styles, leading to a significant increase in the number of three-pointers taken across the league.
The Warriors' head coach, Steve Kerr, played a pivotal role in implementing this offensive strategy. Kerr, a former five-time NBA champion point guard, understood the importance of the three-point shot and encouraged Curry and his teammates to utilise it as a primary weapon. Kerr's offensive system, combined with the talent of his players, created a dynamic and unpredictable offense that revolutionised the game.
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Small-ball strategy
The Golden State Warriors' success with small-ball lineups has caused analysts to consider small-ball to be the future of basketball. The Warriors' small-ball strategy, also known as the Death Lineup, involves sacrificing height, physical strength, and low-post offense/defense in favour of smaller, faster, and more agile players. This creates a positionless style of play that increases scoring, often from the three-point line.
The Warriors' small-ball strategy was particularly effective during their NBA Finals win, with Steve Kerr's decision to move Draymond Green to center and insert Andre Iguodala at power forward. This move surprised many, as it went against the traditional belief that "size always wins" in basketball. By utilising Green's speed and agility at the center position, the Warriors were able to outrun and outmaneuver opposing players, spreading out the defense and creating more scoring opportunities.
The success of the Warriors' small-ball strategy has had a significant impact on the league, with other teams following suit and incorporating small-ball tactics into their gameplay. The Warriors' ability to diversify their advantages within a small-ball environment has been a key factor in their success, with players like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green excelling in this system.
While the Warriors have popularized the small-ball strategy, it is important to note that they built upon existing concepts. The Miami Heat, for example, employed a similar style of play starting in 2011-12, labeling it "pace and space." Additionally, the Warriors themselves have at times abandoned small-ball completely, using larger lineups to regain their equilibrium when needed.
Overall, the Warriors' innovative use of small-ball has had a lasting impact on the NBA, changing the way teams approach the game and popularizing a style of play that prioritizes speed, agility, and scoring over traditional size and strength.
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Continuity of personnel
The Golden State Warriors' success has been attributed to the continuity of personnel and success. The team's core quartet of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Steve Kerr has been instrumental in their dynastic run. Curry, a transcendent talent, agreed to a four-year, $44 million rookie contract extension in 2012, allowing the Warriors to retain a strong core around him. Curry, along with Kerr, revolutionized offense by shooting 3s and making it the main course of their strategy, which was unheard of before.
The Warriors' front office has also played a crucial role in the team's continuity. Chris Mullin, as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, hired three former teammates, Mitch Richmond, Mario Elie, and Rod Higgins, to help run the organization. This move ensured a level of continuity and consistency in the Warriors' culture and values.
Steph Curry's impact on the game of basketball has been widely acknowledged. His ability to shoot 3s and create space revolutionized the way teams approached offense. Curry's influence extended beyond just shooting, as he explored and developed his own style within the system implemented by coaches Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr.
The emergence of Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins during the 2022 championship run added a new dimension to the Warriors' offense. Poole, in particular, provided a much-needed second guard option, allowing the team to maintain their offensive flow even when Curry was on the bench. Wiggins adapted his role from a self-creator to an off-the-catch attacker and lockdown defensive wing.
The Warriors' ability to maintain a strong core of players, adapt their playing style, and integrate new talent has contributed to their success and impact on the game of basketball. The continuity of personnel has been a key factor in the Warriors' dynasty and their ability to revolutionize the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
The Golden State Warriors changed basketball by making the three-point shot the "main course" instead of a "side dish". Steph Curry and Steve Kerr revolutionized offense by shooting 3s way before other teams did.
Steph Curry and Steve Kerr revolutionized offense by centering their offense around creating space and getting open 3s as a primary option almost every possession. Steph Curry is also an eight-time NBA All-Star and his influence on the game has been described as changing it "forever".
In the 2012 draft, the Warriors selected small forward Harrison Barnes with the 7th overall pick, center Festus Ezeli with the 30th pick, small forward Draymond Green with the 35th pick, and 7-foot-1 center Ognjen Kuzmic with the 52nd pick. Curry also agreed to a four-year, $44 million rookie scale contract extension, which was considered risky at the time due to his injury history. However, by 2016, this contract had paid off as it freed up the necessary funds to allow the team to keep a strong core around him.
