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Stephen Curry, celebrating with\u00a0Draymond Green, anchored a Warriors dynasty that made five straight trips to the NBA Finals, winning three, and added another ring three years after that.<\/p>\n
Eric Gay\/Associated Press<\/p>\n
The Golden State Warriors<\/a> are providing considerable evidence that dynasties die hard, and that\u2019s a shame. Because they don\u2019t come back to life.<\/p>\n It is written in The Great Book of Hoops that the Warriors of 2015-2022 rank with history\u2019s greatest teams. Some of those earned the distinction in a single season, notably the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, but authentic dynasties have been rare.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s that short list, and the mechanics of their demise.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n San Antonio Spurs, five titles between 1999 and 2014:<\/strong>\u00a0This was largely a Tim Duncan production, beginning in his rookie year and ending at age 37. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were huge components of this long-running masterpiece, terminated strictly by time.<\/p>\n Chicago Bulls, 1991-98:<\/strong> That was all Michael Jordan, who took a season and part of another off but went 6-for-6 in the Finals. Clownish GM Jerry Krause couldn\u2019t wait to shake things up and save money, claiming, \u201cPlayers and coaches alone don\u2019t win championships, organizations do,\u201d but coach Phil Jackson knew better. He set up that final season as a \u201cLast Dance,\u201d knowing the end was near.<\/p>\n (The Detroit Pistons, Jordan\u2019s primary foil over the years, had a five-year run with two titles and at least a conference finals reached. Not quite a dynasty.)<\/p>\n Lakers, 1997-2004:<\/strong> The eight years Shaquille O\u2019Neal and Kobe Bryant played together. Three straight titles (2000-02), always in the playoffs, and reached the Finals in their last go-round. They were unstoppable at their best; it\u2019s just a shame those two guys squabbled their way through much of it. They routinely crushed the Eastern Conference and could have won many more.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The Lakers and Celtics of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, 1980-88:<\/strong> Call it a dynastic rivalry, the greatest and most competitive the league has ever seen (followed closely by Bill Russell\/Wilt Chamberlain). The two teams combined for eight of the nine NBA titles in this era. Along the way, the 1985-86 Celtics lodged a powerful case for the greatest team ever. Several of Magic\u2019s teams fell into that category, notably the 65-win champions in 1987 with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy.<\/p>\n Boston Celtics: 1957-69:<\/strong> With some of history\u2019s greatest players in his path, notably Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell steered these teams to 11 titles in 13 years, the ultimate NBA dynasty. Like the current Warriors, they simply got too old to persevere, but somehow, with Russell at 34 and Sam Jones 35 (Tom Sanders only looked 40), they got past the Chamberlain-Jerry West Lakers to win that final ring.<\/p>\n Minneapolis Lakers, 1949-54:<\/strong> George Mikan was the league\u2019s first great center, and he towered above the rest with five titles in those six years. Mikan retired right then, indisputably on top. He came back a year later, for just 37 games, but it was over. Russell was about to enter the picture.<\/p>\n What\u2019s left of the Golden State dynasty is essentially the same team that won just 37 games last season, and that\u2019s depressing. I haven\u2019t heard a single person \u2014 media, insiders, fans \u2014 claim that another title is in store.<\/p>\n As relics go, however, the Warriors promise to be grand theater.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Around the country, folks of all ages will pay for a glimpse of Stephen Curry<\/a> as long as he wears a uniform, \u2014 and he won\u2019t ever let them down. Draymond Green<\/a> relishes being the hero and the villain, all at once. Jimmy Butler<\/a> has a charismatic way about him, still capable of taking command in a crisis.<\/p>\n On the strength of high character alone, this team will take down San Antonio and Oklahoma City at least once during the regular season. There will be many crushing defeats, as well. The injury report will not sing. In any case, the Warriors ask that you have fun with this season. Let the dynasty rest in peace.<\/p>\n There goes greatness<\/strong><\/p>\n San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez jokes with players in the San Diego Padres dugout as he stands on first base after getting hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of a game Thursday, July 30, 2026, in San Diego.<\/p>\n Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<\/p>\n \u2022 If feels like a long, sad goodbye for Luis Arraez<\/a>, the Giants<\/a>\u2019 finest pure hitter since Barry Bonds<\/a> and Will Clark and, as of this writing, almost a lock to be traded. Maybe his departure will be brushed aside in the near future, when the Giants\u2019 promising young infield prospects arrive, but for the moment, his absence will be a severe blow to the fan experience.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n From the department of absurd statistics, consider a\u00a0 Statcast Bat Tracking report that claimed Arraez has the slowest \u201cbat speed in baseball.\u201d Seriously. That\u2019s nothing short of insanity, because\u00a0Arraez has the quickest bat in either league\u00a0\u2014 and your eyes confirm that every night.<\/p>\n Aside from the genius of his art, Arraez is a shining light of joy and inspiration to his teammates, and a surprisingly respectable asset at second base. \u201cOur pleasure,\u201d Mike Krukow said on the air this week, \u201cto watch him work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Good to hear\u00a0Azzi Fudd challenge Curry to a 3-point shooting contest after winning the event at the WNBA All-Star weekend. \u201cSteph, if you\u2019re listening, I\u2019ve been asking for a rematch since high school,\u201d she announced, \u201cso maybe this is our time to start figuring out a time and a place.\u201d<\/p>\n That should be great fun\u00a0\u2014 and I\u2019ll take Azzi, by the way. But don\u2019t stop at a two-person affair. Add Caitlin Clark, whose outside shot changed the women\u2019s game, and Sabrina Ionescu, who staged the greatest performance ever seen at such an event (including Larry Bird) with a record 37 out of a possible 40 points in 2023.<\/p>\n How could it happen? Find a way.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/a>
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