June 16, 2015 — sitting criss cross applesauce, I stared so intensely at the TV that my eyes felt as if they were going square. Standing in front of me was the winning team of the 2015 NBA championship: the Golden State Warriors. Little did I know, I’d be in a rerun of “Groundhog Day” for the next four years, watching the ever-evolving Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — stacked with championship-ring fiend Kevin Durant for two years — take on the same Cleveland Cavaliers team, hard-carried by Lebron James.
The Warriors have seen their share of ups and downs since that glory — there’s even been talk of “the end of the dynasty,” especially after a turbulent 2022-23 season. However, offseason changes have built the Warriors to be a sure threat for the championship once again. You heard it here first: I believe the Big Three (Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson) have at least one more ring in them.
One of the biggest offseason changes was the Jordan Poole trade to the Washington Wizards. After his choke in the 2023 playoffs, Dub City could smell his trade from a mile away (respectfully), but in hindsight, there were a couple factors at play as the Poole Party moved to D.C.
From early on, Poole’s firecracker spirit clashed with that of the older and more seasoned players. And when I say “older and more seasoned players,” I mean Draymond Green. After practice footage was leaked featuring Poole receiving a World Wrestling Entertainment-level punch from Green, their beef became public. Unfortunately, the video clip had no sound, so I can only speculate how the fight started — my money is on Poole’s mention of the grays in Green’s beard.
Despite his hand in Poole’s trade, Green’s future on the Warriors was also in limbo. At the end of last season, Green’s four-year contract with the Warriors expired, and though he is a Golden State staple, even I had my doubts about his re-signing. The Poole punch paired with the playoff stomp on Domantas Sabonis (the most dramatic flagrant foul ever) in a single season caused me and others to question his value to the team.
Alas, as of June 19, Green will be stomping with the Warriors for another five years, keeping the Big Three for some more time.
And yet, for some odd reason, three didn’t seem like a big enough number for Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., so he added another senior player to the mix: Chris Paul. It’s definitely a trade I (along with the majority of the NBA) didn’t see coming, but at the end of the day, who can’t see the value in the “Point God”? Chris Paul is surely a catch for any team, even with 18 seasons under his belt (and no ring…).
Adjusting to the Paul trade, the Warriors also gained several younger players, maintaining the balance: Rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis are sure to bring some hustle, while Dub Nation’s Jonathan Kuminga keeps the highlight crew busy with his poster-worthy dunks.
Though it was sad to see dependable bench players like Donte DiVincenzo go, the 2023-24 roster (now so long that they make the rookies sit on the floor during games) has potential to be successful. Early season games are sure to be interesting, and the Warriors are working some great team victories (even at away games — shocking!).
