Warriors Dynasty (2015-2018)

Lore & Background

The Warriors were founded in Philadelphia in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, a charter member of the Basketball Association of America. They were owned by Peter A. Tyrrell, who hired Eddie Gottlieb as coach and general manager. Gottlieb named the team after the Philadelphia Warriors, a team he founded with his friends in 1917. Led by early scoring sensation Joe Fulks, the Warriors won the championship in the league's inaugural 1946–47 season by defeating the Chicago Stags, four games to one.

The BAA merged with the National Basketball League to become the NBA in 1949. The Warriors won their other championship as a Philadelphia team in the 1955–56 season, defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons, four games to one. In 1962, Franklin Mieuli purchased the majority shares of the team and relocated the franchise to the San Francisco Bay Area, renaming them the San Francisco Warriors. The Warriors changed their name to the Golden State Warriors for the 1971–72 season.

The 1974–75 team, coached by Al Attles and led by Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes, defeated the Washington Bullets in a four-game sweep. Barry was named NBA Finals MVP. The Warriors won additional championships after the 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2021–22 seasons.

Reader's Guide

The Golden State Warriors have won seven championships: 1946–47 (BAA), 1955–56, 1974–75, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2021–22. The franchise began as the Philadelphia Warriors in 1946, became the San Francisco Warriors in 1962, and the Golden State Warriors in 1971. Key early stars included Joe Fulks, Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, Neil Johnston, and Wilt Chamberlain. Later stars included Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond, and Jamaal Wilkes.