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NBA History: The best era for each of the 30 franchises

By Daniel Lubofsky

SAN ANTONIO - JANUARY 14: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to drive around Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks at the SBC Center on January 14, 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Chris Birck/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO - JANUARY 14: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to drive around Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks at the SBC Center on January 14, 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Chris Birck/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors: 2014-Present

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have certainly earned their spot in the rafters of the Chase Center. But the legacies they’ve left behind and the championships brought to the Golden State Warriors never seemed like part of their NBA futures coming out of college.

Of the vaunted trio, Steph was the highest draft pick at seventh overall. There was no prophecy in the making out in the Bay Area. Nobody dubbed them the future rulers of the NBA. Slowly but surely, however, the Dubs began trending upward with a return to the postseason that laid the foundation for what eventually became a championship core.

A championship in 2015 put Golden State under the national spotlight. Ending over a 40-year title drought is cause for celebration and would put most teams into a season-long hangover the following year, but these Warriors proved to be different.

They broke what many thought to be unbreakable, the single-season wins record of 72 was topped in 2015-16 with 73. Curry put forth one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history, smashing his previous single-season 3-point record on his way to a second straight MVP trophy — the first-ever unanimous selection.

A blown chance capitalize on what would’ve been the greatest season ever stung in the days after that wild Game 7, but those feelings of sadness were turned on their head after Kevin Durant arrived in the Bay Area, sparking consecutive runs to the title soon after.

After five straight Finals appearances, many believe this iteration of Golden State has run its championship course. Until Thompson returns, that might be the case, but after the Warriors burst onto the scene in ways nobody saw coming five years ago, don’t be surprised to watch them fight to keep open that championship window as long as possible.

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