5 takeaways from the 2017 NBA Finals

From LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors’ legacies to a changing of the guard for Kevin Durant, here are five takeaways from the 2017 NBA Finals.

In the third act of a predictable championship matchup, the 2017 NBA Finals also featured a predictable result: The Golden State Warriors winning their second title in the last three years, powered by impressive performances from Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

It was what everyone expected dating back to last summer. It was extremely quick and thorough, with the Warriors only losing once in 17 playoff games en route to the title. And it was lacking in drama, especially as we look to next season and prepare to do this again in 2018.

And yet, as predictable as the final destination was, the journey that brought us there was far more intriguing than NBA Twitter would lead you to believe.

No, these Finals weren’t “boring,” just because a few games ended with lopsided scores or because it ended in five games. No, LeBron James didn’t officially slide out of the G.O.A.T. discussion despite falling to 3-5 in the Finals and no, the Warriors aren’t bad for the league.

Following Game 5’s victory on Monday, these — and several other significant takeaways — need to be covered. From King James’ place among the all-time greats to Kevin Durant’s ascension to understanding the Warriors’ dominance, here are five takeaways from the 2017 NBA Finals.