%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20width%3D%2239px%22%20height%3D%2240px%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2039%2040%22%20enable-background%3D%22new%200%200%2039%2040%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20d%3D%22M38.5%2C7H28.2v26h10.3V7z%22%2F%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20clip-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20d%3D%22M26.1%2C25.5c0%2C5.8-4.1%2C7.5-12.9%2C7.5C3.9%2C33%2C0%2C31.2%2C0%2C25.2v-1.1h11.6%0A%09v2.4c0%2C0.7%2C0.1%2C1.4%2C1.2%2C1.4c1%2C0%2C1.2-0.4%2C1.2-1.3v-0.9c0-1.6-0.9-1.6-3.5-2.2C2.2%2C21.7%2C0%2C19.7%2C0%2C15.3v-0.9C0%2C9.3%2C5.5%2C7%2C12.9%2C7%0A%09c10.2%2C0%2C12.8%2C2.6%2C12.8%2C7.4v1.8h-11v-2.9c0-0.6-0.4-1.1-1.2-1.1c-0.6%2C0-1.2%2C0.4-1.2%2C1.1v0.9c0%2C1.5%2C0.9%2C2%2C3.3%2C2.5%0A%09c8%2C1.6%2C10.5%2C3.3%2C10.5%2C7.5V25.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Golden Season Remembered: Looking back at Warriors' 73–win ride
During a rapturous, history-making season, the Warriors made believers out of hardcore fans and hoops novices alike—everyone, it seems, except the teams gunning for the Dubs in the playoffs. Subscribe now for the in-depth coverage, only in Sports Illustrated. The article appeared in the April 18-25, 2016 issue.
OAKLAND — On Wednesday, as Steph Curry chased history at Oracle Arena in Oakland—leading the Warriors to a record 73rd win and then keeping a net as a souvenir—Beth Keiser, a thousand miles away in Black Mountain, N.C., stayed up late to do something she hardly ever does: watch sports. Beth is 78 years old, a retired English professor at Guilford College. Her husband taught religion; her son moved to Ghana and instructs locals in sustainable gardening. In a long, full life, she has rarely thought much about basketball.
This season, however, Beth became hooked on the Warriors after seeing part of a game while visiting friends in California. She was riveted by Curry, and began DVR-ing Golden State games to share with others. Soon enough she was staying up til 1:30 a.m., agonizing over outcomes. She emailed friends, including this reporter’s mother, to ensure that they too were witnessing the grace of this unselfish team, the “contagious pleasure” they took in the game, as she puts it.
Normally, sports must intrude upon the real world to capture the attention of people like Beth. Joe Paterno, Ray Rice, Jason Collins. But here we have a rare phenomenon: Sports atheists converted solely on account of the virtuosity of a star and his team.
“Light years ahead of probably every other team,” said Warriors owner Joe Lacob recently, in a rare moment of hubris from an organization that prides itself on humility. But there’s truth to his comment. Across the league, franchises have rushed to mimic the magic. But how can you replicate Steph? The warmups-turned-pay-per-view. The OKC half-court heave. The flitting and weaving and ankle breaking. He will win the MVP; he could just as easily be Most Improved Player. After last night’s 46-point performance, he finished the season at 45/50/90, only the third player in NBA history to do so, joining Steve Nash and Steve Kerr. In the process, he set records unlikely to be broken by anyone not named Steph Curry, all while appearing to live in the moment. There he was last night, after the win, walking through the tunnel beneath Oracle, high-fiving fans, giggling, and hugging his mother, Sonya, who shouted out “There goes that man!”
• MORE NBA: Warriors further legacy with 73 | Complete playoff schedule
From the start this season felt different. Golden State opened with a record 24 straight wins, forcing many fans to care about the NBA a good two months early. In the process Draymond Green evolved from defensive maniac to all-around maniac. He played point-forward—and at times point-center—becoming the first player in NBA history to finish a season with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks. He led the league in plus-minus—not to mention flexing and bellowing “AND ONNNE!” after every attempt. He is not, we now know, a robot.
The only team to have the Warriors’ number, strangely enough, was the Lakers, who beat Golden State twice. O.K., so the first time was in an exhibition game—the Warriors actually had a losing record in preseason—and the second came when the team played at noon on a Sunday, after Steph chose to see a midnight showing of Deadpool the previous evening. Some of his teammates headed off on less-cinematic adventures, leading media folks to note that Los Angeles on a Saturday night remains undefeated.
As the season wore on, and the wins piled up, every Warriors loss became reason for concern. They were never allowed to have a bad day. The players dissected any stumble. Ah, that game against Detroit. Such is the price of chasing perfection.
Gradually, all other NBA storylines receded. Kobe’s final season stumbled along, a distant hum in the background, at least until his 60-point finale Wednesday. Rookie Karl-Anthony Towns convincingly impersonated Tim Duncan, but few paid much mind. Russell Westbrook averaged close to a triple double and may not receive a single first-place MVP vote. Instead the Warriors became a black hole, sucking up all our attention. In one week The New York Times Magazine put them on the cover, only to see ESPN the Magazine devote its entire issue to the team. (SI ran two cover stories in two months, including this week) Then again, how much do you remember about the 1995–96 season, outside of the Bulls’ traveling circus? Our hearts go out to that campaign’s ignored stories—Damon Stoudamire’s Rookie of the Year win, the Kings’ surprise playoff appearance—and now, another season’s worth of moments slips away.
• MORE NBA: SI’s hub for all thing Warriors | The Warriors’ 73 best plays
Perhaps in time we’ll also forget that the Warriors made it to midseason without their head coach. For Steve Kerr, off-season back surgery led to a second surgery which led to debilitating headaches. Kerr, as optimistic a man as you’ll meet in sports, in what should be one of the best times of his life, instead went to what he says was a dark place. Slowly, the pain eased. Finally, he returned to the bench, after Luke Walton led the team to a 39–4 record and ensured an off-season full of job offers (a striking result considering many wondered, before the season, if the team could survive the loss of last year’s top assistant, Alvin Gentry, to the Pelicans).
As the world pressed in, the Warriors held their ground. Danielle Steel visited practice, as did Arianna Huffington, Lydia Ko and, earlier this week, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. Green appeared at a local Peet’s to serve coffee, only to cause a craze, the line stretching two blocks hours before his arrival. Occasionally the wave crashed too hard. A railing broke in Utah as fans tried to reach Curry for autographs. In Toronto, at All-Star Weekend, Curry’s security guy, Ralph Walker, a former Oakland police officer, had to lead Steph on a dead sprint through a department store, running low like back in the days of a house raid, to escape a mob of fans. (Recently, a friend of this reporter, who lives in Berkeley, became excited because his young daughter managed “eye contact” with Ayesha Curry at an event.)
In the final weeks seemingly everyone weighed in on the team. They should rest their stars! Prepare for the playoffs. Screw that, go for the record. Meanwhile, NBA alums, including Oscar Robertson and an assured Scottie Pippen, lectured us on how, back in the day, this Warriors team would have gotten absolutely smoked. Finally, center Andrew Bogut, a caustic Australian, responded on Twitter. “My under 14 team in Melbourne Australia would have beat these @warriors 109-99,” Bogut wrote. “Fat Jimmy would have locked down @StephenCurry30!!!!”
How do you deal with the weight of history? Kerr brought in guest speakers, including the author Michael Lewis, who noted how important it is to have people around you who can help you stay grounded. GM Bob Myers read books at night when he couldn’t sleep, then passed them on to coaches, firing through Boys on the Boat before giving it to Ron Adams. Myers knew he was supposed to be elated at the team’s success but says it only made him more anxious. His wife, Kristen, says that when the Warriors hosted the Spurs last Thursday, with 70 wins on the line, it was the most nervous she’d seen her husband in a long time. Hoping to lighten the mood, she suggested during the game that they go on the Dance Cam together. Bob did not laugh.
The Warriors won that game, just as they won three days later in San Antonio in a performance that further cemented Curry’s competitive legend—he scored 37 points, many of them in absurd fashion—while reinforcing what we already know about the team as it heads into the postseason. Namely: As go Curry and Green, so go the Warriors; offensive magic aside, the team wins when it plays D and limits turnovers; and don’t ever fail to contest a Curry shot, even when it’s from 60 feet (the distance from which Curry banked one in at the end of the third quarter against the Spurs, only to have the basket waved off).
MORE NBA:GALLERY: Golden State Warriors' record–breaking season
Golden State Warriors' Record-Breaking Season
Warriors 111, New Orleans 95: (1-0)
Here is our favorite photo from every game Golden State has won during its record-breaking 2015-16 season, starting with the Warriors ring ceremony before the season opener against New Orleans.
Warriors 112, Houston 92: (2-0)
Andre Iguodala, left, and Draymond Green double-team James Harden in a rematch of the previous season's Western Conference finals.
Warriors 134, New Orleans 120: (3-0)
Steph Curry drives to the basket between Anthony Davis (23) and Omer Asik (3) of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Warriors 119, Memphis 69: (4-0)
Andre Iguodala dunks over Brandan Wright in a game in which the Warriors won by 50 points, the worst loss in Memphis franchise history.
Warriors 112, L.A. Clippers 108: (5-0)
Steph Curry watches a three-point basket go in against the Clippers as the Warriors equaled their 5-0 start from the previous season.
Warriors 119, Denver 104: (6-0)
Golden State's Leandro Barbosa strips the ball from Gary Harris of the Nuggets.
Warriors 103, Sacramento 94: (7-0)
Harrison Barnes of the Warriors passes against Kosta Koufos of the Sacramento Kings.
Warriors 109, Detroit 95: (8-0)
Wearing a protective mask and playing in his first game since suffering a concussion in the season opener, Andrew Bogut put in 20 minutes and had eight points and nine rebounds against Detroit.
Warriors 100, Memphis 84: (9-0)
Steph Curry reacts on a night in which Golden State matched the record 9-0 start of the 1960-61 Warriors, who played in Philadelphia at the time.
Warriors 129, Minnesota 116: (10-0)
Andrew Bogut dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves as Golden State became the fourth defending champion in league history to start a season 10-0.
Warriors 107, Brooklyn 99 OT: (11-0)
Andre Iguodala scored 18 points, including an overtime-producing three-pointer with 5.9 seconds left as the Warriors ran their record to 11-0.
Warriors 115, Toronto 110: (12-0)
Harrison Barnes dives to save the ball from going out of bounds against Toronto in a game in which the Warriros donned their throwback The City uniforms for the first time in over eight years.
Warriors 124, L.A. Clippers 117: (13-0)
Draymond Green shoots over DeAndre Jordan as the Warriors erased a 23-point deficit to defeat the Clippers for the second time in the 2015-16 season.
Warriors 106, Chicago 94: (14-0)
Klay Thompson gets above Chicago guard E'Twaun Moore for an attempted block.
Warriors 118, Denver 105: (15-0)
Steph Curry splits the Denver Nuggets as Golden State tied the best start in NBA history with its 15-0 mark.
Warriors 111, L.A. Lakers 77: (16-0)
Draymond Green flexes his muscles on the day that Golden State defeated the Lakers and became the first team in NBA history to start a season 16-0.
Warriors 135, Phoenix 116: (17-0)
Klay Thompson watches a three-point shot go down—one of the 23 the Warriors hit against Phoenix.
Warriors 120, Sacramento 101: (18-0)
Draymond Green reacts after Klay Thompson hit a three-pointer against Sacramento. For his part, Green turned in his second consecutive triple double.
Warriors 106, Utah 103: (19-0)
Center Festus Ezeli blocks the shot of Utah forward Gordon Hayward as Andre Iguodala looks on during a 106-103 victory.
Warriors 116, Charlotte 99: (20-0)
Stephen Curry makes a no-look pass while surrounded by Jeremy Lamb (3), Kemba Walker (15) and Cody Zeller of Charlotte.
Warriors 112, Toronto 109: (21-0)
Marreese Speights of the Warriors blocks the shot of Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors.
Warriors 114, Brooklyn 98: (22-0)
Draymond Green goes underneath for a shot against the Brooklyn Nets.
Warriors 131, Indiana 123: (23-0)
Steph Curry shoots between Solomon Hill (44) and Jordan Hill (27) of the Indiana Pacers.
Warriors 124, Boston 119, 2OT: (24-0)
Draymond Green, Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston defend Kelly Olynyk during a double overtime win over Boston.
Warriors 128, Phoenix 103: (25-1)
Shaun Livingston drives the ball against Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.
Warriors 121, Milwaukee 112: (26-1)
Steph Curry saves the ball from going out of bounds while facing the Milwaukee Bucks.
Warriors 103, Utah 85: (27-1)
Klay Thompson drives to the basket for two of his team-high 20 points against the Utah Jazz.
Warriors 89, Cleveland 83: (28-1)
In a rematch of the NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cavaliers played second fiddle to the Warriors yet again, losing at Oracle Arena on Christmas Day.
Warriors 122, Sacramento 103: (29-1)
Steph Curry was guarded by his younger brother, Seth, for the first time in their NBA careers, and the reigning MVP took advantage to finish with his sixth career triple double.
Warriors 114, Houston 110: (30-2)
A day after Golden State's second loss of the season, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson helped the Warriors get past Houston.
Warriors 111, Denver 108 OT: (31-2)
Andre Iguodala looks to put a move on Jameer Nelson of the Denver Nuggets as the Warriors improved to 31-2.
Warriors 111, Charlotte 101: (32-2)
Andrew Bogut blocks Kemba Walker in a game in which Draymond Green became the second player in Warriors history to have three straight triple doubles.
Warriors 109, L.A. Lakers 88: (33-2)
Klay Thompson scores two of his game-high 36 points as the Warriors became the first NBA team to win 33 of its first 35 games.
Warriors 128, Portland 108: (34-2)
Steph Curry scored 26 points and had nine assists in three quarters of work against Portland.
Warriors 128, Sacramento 116: (35-2)
Harrison Barnes, left, and Andre Iguodala box out Sacramento Kings forward Quincy Acy.
Warriors 111, Miami 103: (36-2)
Draymond Green knocks the ball from the hands of Miami's Chris Bosh.
Warriors 116, L.A. Lakers 98: (37-3)
A day after their third loss of the season (a 112-110 setback against Denver), the Warriors won in Kobe Bryant's last visit to Oracle.
Warriors 132, Cleveland 98: (38-4)
Draymond Green gets a rebound ahead of Iman Shumpert of the Cleveland Cavaliers as Golden State defeated LeBron's team for the second time in the season and fifth time in a row.
Warriors 125, Chicago 94: (39-4)
Playing in the building with Chicago's "72" banner hanging from above, Draymond Green, Steph Curry and the Warriors continued their pursuit of the record with a 31-point win over the Bulls.
Warriors 122, Indiana 110: (40-4)
Head coach Steve Kerr waves to the crowd before his first game of the season. The Warriors coach had been out since Oct. 1 with complications following two back surgeries.
Warriors 120, San Antonio 90: (41-4)
Steph Curry dribbles against Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs during a 30-point victory and a possible preview of the Western Conference finals.
Warriors 127, Dallas 107: (42-4)
Marreese Speights dunks against Dwight Powell of the Dallas Mavericks in a game in which Klay Thompson scored a season-high 45 points.
Warriors 108, Philadelphia 105: (43-4)
Klay Thompson (11), Draymond Green (23), Harrison Barnes (40), Shaun Livingston (34) and Steph Curry high five in a win over Philadelphia that was decided by a Harrison Barnes three-pointer with 0.2 seconds left.
Warriors 116, New York 95: (44-4)
Playing in front of a crowd that included Jerry Seinfeld and John McEnroe, Steph Curry drew this humorous foul against Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks.
Warriors 134, Washington 121: (45-4)
Steph Curry made 13 of 14 shots in the first half and scored over 50 points for the second time this season in a win over Washington.
Warriors 116, Okla. City 108: (46-4)
Andre Iguodala (9) and Draymond Green attempt to stop Kevin Durant on a night that had a star-studded playoff atmosphere at Oracle Arena.
Warriors 123, Houston 110: (47-4)
Andre Iguodala tries to reach around James Harden to steal the ball as the Warriors defeated Houston for the 11th time in 12 games.
Warriors 112, Phoenix 104: (48-4)
Steph Curry wasn't in any hurry to get up after falling to the floor against Phoenix in the last game before the All-Star break.
Warriors 115, L.A. Clippers 112: (49-5)
Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston celebrate a 3-pointer by teammate Harrison Barnes (not pictured) in a win over the Clippers. Just one day earlier, Golden State had suffered its largest losing margin of the season, a 137-105 drubbing by Portland.
Warriors 102, Atlanta 92: (50-5)
Despite being slowed by a strained right Achilles, Warriors center Andrew Bogut blocked this shot by Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap.
Warriors 118, Miami 112: (51-5)
Leandro Barbosa and Dwyane Wade get tangled up on a night in which Steph Curry would hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to help lift Golden State over Miami.
Warriors 130, Orlando 114: (52-5)
Much to the chagrin of at least one Orlando fan, Steph Curry celebrates after making a three-pointer from near the half-court line at the end of the third quarter. Curry made 10 threes and scored 51 points on a night when he set yet another NBA record—128 consecutive games with a 3-pointer made.
Warriors 121, Okla. City 118 OT: (53-5)
Steph Curry hit this long-range three (his 12th of the game) to lift Golden State to a thrilling overtime win over the Thunder.
Warriors 109, Atlanta 105, OT (54-5)
Draymond Green sank this awkward-looking, off-balanced three-pointer with 40.2 seconds remaining in overtime and the shot clock expiring to help the Warriors get past Atlanta.
Warriors 121, Okla. City 106: (55-5)
Steph Curry tries not to step on the patrons after making a three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Warriors 119, Orlando 113: (56-6)
A day after getting embarrased by the Lakers in a 112-95 shocking loss, the Warriors rebounded to win their 45th consecutive game at home.
Warriors 115, Utah 94: (57-6)
Marreese Speights celebrates during a game in which he scored 16 points off the bench for the Warriors, including seven in the second quarter.
Warriors 128, Portland 112: (58-6)
Steph Curry passes the ball to James Michael McAdoo as Portland's Meyers Leonard and Maurice Harkless (right) defend.
Warriors 123, Phoenix 116: (59-6)
Klay Thompson looks to pass away from Tyson Chandler (4) and P.J. Tucker of the Phoenix Suns in a game that saw the Warriors overcome a nine-point deficit in the final 12 minutes.
Warriors 125, New Orleans 107: (60-6)
Playing on his 28th birthday, Steph Curry excited the fans and led the Warriors with 27 points in an easy win over the Pelicans.
Warriors 121, New York 85: (61-6)
As is his custom, Draymond Green surprised Steph Curry with a water bath during a postgame interview, this one after the Warriors had dispatched the New York Knicks.
Warriors 130, Dallas 112: (62-6)
James Michael McAdoo drives past David Lee (42) of the Dallas Mavericks in a game in which Steph Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 70 points.
Warriors 109, Minnesota 104: (63-7)
Two nights after scoring a season-low 79 points in a loss at San Antonio, the Warriors got past Minnesota with Brandon Rush (pictured) chipping in five points.
Warriors 114, L.A. Clippers 98: (64-7)
Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson help Steph Curry on a night in which the Warriors completed a season sweep of the Clippers for the first time since 1985-86.
Warriors 128, Dallas 120: (65-7)
Marreese Speights draws a charging foul on Dwight Powell of Dallas in a game in which the Warriors hit their 934th three-pointer, surpassing the NBA record of 933 set by Houston the previous season.
Warriors 117, Philadelphia 105: (66-7)
Stephen Curry watches one of his three-point attempts while Ish Smith of the Philadelphia 76ers looks too. The night belonged to Klay Thompson, who scored 40 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Warriors 102, Washington 94: (67-7)
Ian Clark tries to save a ball from going out of bounds while being defended by Ramon Sessions of the Washington Wizards.
Warriors 103, Utah 96 OT: (68-7)
Steph Curry hits the floor with Utah forward Gordon Hayward in pursuit of the ball during an overtime victory over the Jazz.
Warriors 136, Portland 111: (69-8)
Two days after having their 54-game home winning streak snapped by the Boston Celtics, the Warriors refused to wallow in any sorrow—handily defeating Portland. Draymond Green (pictured) celebrated in his usual fashion.
Warriors 112, San Antonio 101: (70-9)
On the heels of losing two of their previous three games, including a hard-fought 124-117 overtime setback against Minnesota, Steph Curry and the Warriors kept their goal of winning 73 games alive by running over Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs.
Warriors 100, Memphis 99: (71-9)
In a game that Shaun Livingston and Golden State almost let get away, the Warriors overcame a 10-point deficit in the last 6:21 to pull out a 100-99 win over Memphis on a controversial tip-in.
Warriors 92, San Antonio 86: (72-9)
Steph Curry celebrates after the Warriors tied the NBA record for most wins in a season, earning their 72nd by handing the San Antonio Spurs their first home loss of the season. The victory put Golden State in position to surpass Michael Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls with the regular season finale scheduled for April 13 against Memphis in Oracle Arena.
Warriors 125, Memphis 104: (73-9)
Draymond Green celebrates with his teammates after their win over Memphis gave them 73 for the season, a new NBA record.
And then, Wednesday night in front of a giddy sellout crowd draped in blue, the record-breaker. The game itself was never really close—a 125–104 final—though the Warriors seemed intent on putting on a show, almost as if performing a tribute to themselves. Everyone did their best Steph: a Bogut scoop reverse and a Mo Speights lefty push shot and a Draymond deep three. But really, it was all about Curry himself: six threes in the first quarter, including a couple from no-man’s land; the usual improbable cross-court passes; and, finally, a pair of remarkable statistical feats: a 30 ppg season in only 34 mpg (the fewest ever) and 402 three-pointers, obliterating his own NBA record of 286. Said Curry afterwards, in a comment that might seem arrogant coming from anyone else: “I feel like I really can do anything.”
When time expired, confetti fell, the speakers blared Flo Rida and Green sprinted onto the floor to secure the game ball which, he later explained, he planned to have cut up so that every player could keep a piece (the players also signed each other’s jerseys; in Curry’s case, he also signed a pair of shoes for one of Matt Barnes’s sons). Afterward, Kerr admitted that he didn’t think the 72-game record would ever fall, comparing it to DiMaggio’s hit streak. Now, he really doubted it. “Someone has to go 74–8….I don’t see it.” Curry called the record “a cool accomplishment,” noting of the playoffs, “It would suck not to finish the job off.” Green first joked about the reputation of the team, saying, “We lucked our way to 73 wins this year.” Then, asked what the record means, he was more serious. “It means,” he responded, “I’m part of the best team ever.”
That might be true. But for new converts like Keiser, this magical season hasn’t been about wins, or stats or accomplishments. It’s not about the what, but rather the how. In Beth’s case, she says she watches the Warriors for the simplest of reasons: joy.
Theirs at playing the game; hers in watching them do it.
Chris Ballard is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, where he covers the NBA and specializes in long-form stories. Ballard, who joined SI in 2000, is the author of four books.