The Golden State Warriors are a new version of Russell’s Celtics

The Golden State Warriors’ culture, philosophy, and system are reminiscent of the NBA’s greatest dynasty.

I recently picked up the great Bill Russell’s book Russell Rules: 11 Lessons on Leadership from the Twentieth Century’s Greatest Winner. As a fan of the game, Russell amazes me for everything that he accomplished. He’s not only one of the greatest basketball players ever, he’s also one of the greatest men to play in the NBA.

It’s never a bad idea to learn from one of the best ever. In the book, Russell gives rules that, if followed, can place you on the right path towards success. I’ve just gotten through the first chapter and he talks about what made his Celtics teams so special. He wrote:

"The Celtic “system” was designed to permit intelligent, winning players to endlessly use their own curiosity and creativity to accomplish results. That was why each of the players felt such an extraordinary commitment to the team. It was a living, everyday thing, a practice far more than a promise, it was their team.Our system, just because it was so endlessly inventive, was deceptive to other teams and players."

The Celtics would win 11 championships in Russell’s 13 years there. They would rattle off eight in a row at one point. They’re the most incredible dynasty in sports history with Russell cementing himself as the greatest team player and winner the NBA has ever (and will ever) see.

For most of us, those Celtics are myths, tales of dominance similar to dragons that would set villages on fire. But that passage stood out to me because it sounded all too familiar. An innovative team system that thrives of creativity, selflessness, and sacrifice isn’t something of yesteryear; it’s happening now.

The Golden State Warriors have become the standard in the NBA. Despite falling short of their ultimate goal in the 2016 NBA Finals, they are the epitome of excellence. From top to bottom, the Warriors are a top notch organization.

The last two years have been incredibly special for Golden State, both on an individual and collective level. The team has won a lot of basketball games, highlighted by the franchise’s first championship in 40 years and a historic 73 win season. They’ve also racked up the individual accolades and accomplishments as well.

https://twitter.com/warriors/status/699356620418105344

It starts with Stephen Curry, their MVP and selfless leader. Curry might be the deadliest offensive weapon in the league, but he also understands the value in deferring to Klay Thompson. Russell wrote that he could lead a fast break whenever he wanted to, but he realized that that was Bob Cousy’s strength and doing it himself would hurt his Hall of Fame teammate and the team as a whole. This is how great leaders get the most out of their team.

This system, implemented by Steve Kerr and carried out by Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green has been absolutely fantastic. It’s a winning system that prioritizes the collective over the individual. It’s a throwback to those dominant Celtics; not in the sense of similar playing styles, but in the pursuit of innovation.

The Warriors are changing the way the game of basketball is being played. Their emphasis on three-point shooting and going small is revolutionary. They’re breaking the game.

And, in doing so, they attracted Kevin Durant. He was intrigued by the idea of playing in a system that flourishes as a unit, one in which every individual genuinely enjoys make others better for the sake of wanting to win. Signing Durant makes them deadly.

Now, the Warriors won’t match Russell’s Celtics’ ring total. It’s way too hard to win one championship, let alone eleven of them. But Golden State can still build something special. They have an opportunity to spend multiple years on top.

Russell wrote that Bob Petit, in an exhibition game overseas, told his fellow NBA All-Stars that they could run the Celtics’ plays because they all knew them. The Boston big man said that even though that was true, no one outside could quite understand the nuances. That’s what’s happening in Golden State.

Teams can try to copy what the Warriors are doing, but it won’t work. First of all, the personnel just isn’t there. Steph Curry’s and Draymond Green’s don’t just grow on trees. The Warriors’ success cannot be duplicated because it’s so much more than just X’s and O’s for them–it’s about the mentality and the attention to detail.

The Warriors have developed a system that can reach heights not seen since Russell’s Celtics. Creativity is at the core of their success and their mark on the game is indelible. Perhaps without even knowing, they’ve resurrected a half-century old philosophy and created a culture that has Golden State on the cusp of establishing a throwback dynasty with new innovations.