Golden State Warriors

Lore & Background

The Warriors won the inaugural Basketball Association of America (BAA) championship in 1947, and won again in 1956, led by Hall of Fame trio Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, and Neil Johnston. After the trade of star Wilt Chamberlain in January 1965, the team finished the 1964–65 season with the NBA's worst record (17–63). Their rebuilding period was brief, however, as they drafted Rick Barry four months after the trade. Barry, along with Jamaal Wilkes, powered the Warriors to their third championship in 1975, widely considered one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.

The team struggled in the 1980s, then became playoff regulars at the turn of the decade with stars Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin, nicknamed 'Run TMC'. Led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the team returned to championship glory in 2015. In 2016, the Warriors achieved the best-ever regular-season record at 73–9 before losing the Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games after surrendering a 3–1 series lead.

After signing former MVP Kevin Durant, the team won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. They lost the 2019 Finals to the Toronto Raptors and Durant left that off-season. After missing the playoffs the next two seasons, the Warriors returned to the playoffs and defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2022 Finals.

Reader's Guide

Nicknamed the 'Dubs' as a shortening of 'W's', the Warriors hold several NBA records: best regular season, most wins in a season (regular season and postseason combined), and best postseason run. Curry and Thompson are generally considered one of the greatest backcourts of all time. The Warriors rank third for the most NBA championships and Finals appearances in NBA history, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Chamberlain and Curry are the only players in franchise history to win the league MVP award, for a total of three awards.

Did You Know?

• Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, a single-game record.
• The franchise adopted the name Golden State Warriors before the 1971–72 season to suggest the team represented the entire state of California.
• The Warriors won the 1975 NBA Finals in a four-game sweep over the Washington Bullets, considered one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.

Playoff Elimination and Championship Context

The 2014-15 campaign marked a significant turning point for the New Orleans franchise, as they secured their first playoff berth since 2011 under the Hornets moniker. Despite finishing last in the Southwest Division for four consecutive years, the team achieved a respectable 45-37 record to claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference. However, this renewed postseason success was short-lived. The Pelicans faced the eventual league champions, the Golden State Warriors, in the first round and were comprehensively swept in four straight games. This decisive series highlighted the gap between a newly qualified playoff team and an elite championship contender.

Draft Asset Management Challenges

Heading into the 2014-15 season, the Pelicans operated under significant constraints regarding their ability to draft new talent due to prior transactional obligations. The franchise did not possess a selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, a direct consequence of the Jrue Holiday trade executed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013. Because their first-round pick fell outside the top five protections after the lottery, it was conveyed to Philadelphia. Furthermore, the team lacked a second-round selection as that asset had been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2009. These historical deals left New Orleans unable to infuse fresh young blood through the draft mechanism during this specific rebuilding phase, forcing reliance entirely on their existing roster and free agency moves.

Divisional Struggles Amidst Playoff Success

A unique paradox defined the Pelicans' standing during the 2014-15 regular season. While the team managed to compile a winning record of 45 wins against 37 losses, they simultaneously finished at the bottom of their own division for the fourth straight year. This statistical anomaly underscores the competitive depth of the Southwest Division compared to the rest of the Western Conference. The franchise successfully navigated these internal struggles to secure the eighth and final playoff seed in the conference, proving that a team could qualify for the postseason even while failing to lead its specific regional rivals. This season served as a bridge between their earlier struggles and future success, demonstrating resilience despite divisional ranking.

The Extended Playoff Drought

The 2014-15 season stands out not only for what it achieved but also for the long gap that followed regarding postseason appearances. The sweep by the Golden State Warriors in the first round marked the end of their immediate hopes, setting the stage for three years without postseason basketball. This period highlighted the difficulty of sustaining momentum after an initial breakthrough, as the organization had to wait several seasons to replicate the success of securing a playoff seed again. The 2014-15 effort remains a pivotal memory in franchise history as the sole playoff appearance during that specific era.