Golden State Warriors must learn from Spurs’ dynasty

The Golden State Warriors‘ rise to the top was unparalleled. A 3-point shooting team rattling off five straight trips to the NBA Finals and taking home three-titles in the process? A 6’3″ guard torching the league en route to back-to-back MVPs? Unheard of.

Similarly, their collapse was unprecedented as well. Their drop from 2019 to 2020 marked the greatest single-season difference in wins the league had ever seen. Injuries and free agency losses resulted in a lost season that granted them the second overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Even this season, with a healthy Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Dubs are on the bubble of missing the playoffs and potentially gaining two more lottery picks. This type of young talent joining a team with three Hall of Famers is mostly unique – but the Dubs could benefit from studying the San Antonio Spurs.

The Golden State Warriors are in a rare territory but their situation isn’t completely unprecedented. They can learn from dynasties of the past.

We’ve heard all about how lucky the Spurs were in winning the Tim Duncan lottery back in 1997. A flukey season marred by injures saw the Spurs fall from 59 wins to just 20 the year Duncan became eligible. The eventual Hall of Famer joined a stacked team of David Robinson, Sean Elliot and Avery Johnson, and well… the rest is history.

The Spurs bounced back miraculously from their fall from grace, winning a title by Duncan’s second season. This marked a reign of dominance that lasted two decades as the Spurs reached five finals and won four titles from 2000-2014.

But, the path to building San Antonio’s dynasty wasn’t a straight line. They never won back-to-back titles and a total of eight years marked the difference between Duncan’s fourth and fifth championships. The key to prolonged greatness? Consistent moves from the front office and growth from the Spurs’ core.

Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all went through their own trials and tribulations throughout their run. Ginobili embraced his role as Sixth Man, Parker expanded his shooting as the years went on and Duncan learned how to master the fundamentals in order to remain elite in his later years.

Obviously, key pickups like Kawhi Leonard and supporting members such as Danny Green and Patty Mills played a role in San Antonio’s last few runs. For the Warriors, remaining confident in their young core and searching for the right supporting pieces will be key.

This dynasty isn’t over yet. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have more fuel in the tank. With the proper development of James Wiseman, a few more draft picks and a fleshed-out supporting cast – the Dubs will be back and better than ever.