Not long ago, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in 6 games to win the 2022 NBA Championship. With this victory, Warriors point guard Stephen Curry secured his fourth career NBA Championship, along with what was likely the biggest storyline of his performance – his first career NBA Finals MVP. However the magnitude of this feat goes far beyond the star’s updated resume. By powering the Golden State Warriors to the top of the NBA once again, Curry has established both himself and his team as those among the greatest in the history of the league.
Steph Curry’s latest ring has opened up several areas of discussion, three of which are explored below.
The Modern Golden State Warriors Dynasty
This year’s triumph marked Golden State’s fourth championship in the last eight years. In addition, it was their sixth NBA Finals appearance in the last eight years; the last team to do so were Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls from 1990 to 1998. There are many more interesting statistics with regard to the Warriors’ historic accomplishments, but perhaps what is more worthy of noting is the fact that the modern Golden State Warriors may very well go down as one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
The Individual Legacies Of Steph Curry & Kevin Durant
Let’s be honest – in all likelihood, both of these players will share the stage in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done. And while analysts such as Stephen A. Smith have seemed to love debating the ways in which their respective legacies have been altered following Curry’s 4th ring, it’s probably a better choice to simply appreciate their greatness while we still can, rather than comparing them. With that being said, Golden State’s most recent championship does invoke an interesting discussion.
While Steph Curry has spent his entire 13-season career with the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant’s career has taken a very different path. When it comes to loyalty, Durant is nowhere near Curry. In fact, right after KD and the OKC Thunder lost to Curry and the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, KD decided to join the team that had just eliminated him. After winning two NBA titles and two Finals MVPs with Golden State, Kevin Durant decided to make yet another departure, teaming up with Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets. In the 2022 NBA Playoffs, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets got swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round. The Celtics eventually went on to the NBA Finals, where Steph Curry and the Warriors would go on to win in six games.
Here is what is interesting about the situation: Durant left Curry and the Warriors to team up with Irving. However, he faced a first round exit while his former team (Golden State) played against Irving’s former team (Boston) in the finals. Despite the loss of Durant, Curry and the Warriors defeated the same team that swept Durant in the first round. So, what does this say about each of them? Let’s take a look at some of their career accomplishments, in the context of the NBA Finals.
Steph Curry
- NBA Championships: 4
- Finals MVPs: 1
- Finals Record: 4-2
Kevin Durant
- NBA Championships: 2
- Finals MVPs: 2
- Finals Record: 2-2
All in all, it’s up to each individual to decide who they think is greater all-time. Those who favour Steph Curry praise the fact that he won championships before, during, and after Kevin Durant’s tenure in Golden State. Those who favour Kevin Durant center their argument around the fact that during the two championships that Curry and KD won together, it was Durant who won Finals MVP both times. And then, you start accounting for their loyalty, all-star appearances, career averages, and enter an endless rabbit hole that really has no definite answer at the end. So, as mentioned above, maybe it is wiser to simply appreciate the two. Or, if you enjoy the thrill of comparing legacies such as these, then Curry’s recent championship opens up many more debates with regard to some more all-time greats.
GSW’s Resiliency & The Future Of The Western Conference
Finally, the 2022 NBA Championship says a lot about Golden State’s resiliency. It starts with the departure of Kevin Durant, along with Klay Thompson’s injury. Thompson would go on to face another injury during his rehabilitation process, leaving him out of the lineup for 941 days. Klay Thompson’s “splash brother”, Steph Curry, also dealt with an injury during the 2019-20 season, and the Warriors finished dead last in the league. Fast-forward a couple of years, and they’re back at the top. These factors are just a few of many that make their championship storyline so great, and they will with no doubt look to continue building on their dynasty in the coming years. However, the Western Conference will just grow tougher and tougher. Young stars like Luka Doncic and Ja Morant are on the rise, while players like Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray are looking to return from injury. LeBron James and the Lakers will look to rebound after a disappointing season, and overall, we’re heading for a pretty great ride in the upcoming season. All of these factors are just on the side of the Western Conference, too – stars such as Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East will also look to return to the stage of the Finals. As Steph Curry will look to win his fifth championship in 2023, the NBA Playoffs will be as tough of a battle as ever.
