On Thursday, the Warriors advanced to the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight seasons, a feat only three previous teams have achieved. After beating the Dallas Mavericks 120-110 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in San Francisco On Thursday, the Warriors clinched a 4-1 series win and are now awaiting the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
Competing in their first Finals since 2019, the Warriors are the only NBA franchises, along with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, to have competed in six Finals over an eight-year span
It’s a record that has drawn comparisons to the dominant Bulls team of the 1990s, which featured Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
“I think the common denominator is just talented players who are fierce competitors,” Kerr said of comparisons between the two teams.
“Whether you’re talking about Michael [Jordan] and Scotty [Pippen]steph [Curry]Draymond [Green]clover [Thompson]it takes a special kind of athlete to have both dynamics.
“The ability and the athleticism and all that, but also being incredibly competitive and so desperate to win. It’s the only way you can have such a run because you’re exhausted, tired and frustrated.
“Unless you have that kind of competitive spirit and that kind of skill together, it’s just not going to happen six times in eight years,” Kerr added, reflecting on a team that could make history and beyond could play together this season.
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‘Surreal Feeling’
After reaching and winning three straight NBA Finals between 2015 and 2019, the Warriors ended the following year with the worst record in the NBA.
But Thursday’s win over Dallas marked a return to familiar territory for the Warriors. Thompson, who has two seasons plagued by injuries, had the highest score with 32 points, while Andrew Wiggins added 18, Green 17 and Curry 15.
“It’s just such a surreal feeling,” Thompson said.
“It’s really hard to put into words. This time last year I just started jogging and pacing the square again. Now I feel like myself, feel explosive, feel confident in my movements, I’m just grateful.”
Curry was also awarded the inaugural Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award after averaging 23.8 points, 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds over the course of the series.
“In the adversity we’ve faced over the past two years,” he said, “we’ve never lost faith, but you understand how difficult it’s going to be to climb the mountain again… We’re very proud of what it is.” took a while to get back here.”
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics lead the heat 3-2 and advance to the Finals with a win on Friday.