Nick Young took to X to double down on his recent comments about the 2018 Golden State Warriors. While he respected the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant-era Lakers, Young noted that their team took massive losses to teams like the 2004 Detroit Pistons. He added that the Warriors would beat both teams in five games.
“I love the Lakers but the Shaq and Kobe team is not beating (the) 2017-18 Warriors …. All this Shaq is the most dominant big ever stuff… They lost to Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace 4-1. Respectfully, Warriors in 5 on both teams ..”
These comments come after Young faced backlash for calling the 2018 Golden State Warriors the greatest team of all time. He explained, during an appearance on Gil’s Arena, that the Shaq-Kobe Lakers didn’t have the players available to guard elite shooters like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson.
Young might be slightly biased, considering he was part of the 2018 Golden State Warriors squad that won the NBA championship. However, his argument does have merit, as many do consider the KD-Curry Warriors to be one of, if not the greatest team in league history.
The arrival of Durant in Golden State was met with widespread league dismay, as one of the best teams in the NBA at the time had added a top-three player in the league, giving the franchise a duo comprising of two of the three best players in the NBA at the time. It meant the rest of the league couldn’t compete with them.
And that turned out to be the case, as the only team to usurp the Warriors in a playoff series during KD’s stint there was the Toronto Raptors, and they were only able to do so due to the major injuries suffered by Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
Is The Warriors Dynasty Over?
In the past few months, many have claimed that the Warriors dynasty is now over. After the abrupt departure of Klay Thompson in free agency, the core of the Warriors franchise was broken up.
With just Stephen Curry and Draymond Green remaining, and no other superstar prospects on the horizon, the Warriors’ dynastic, championship-laiden run in the NBA might be over.
Stephen Curry, however, doesn’t believe this to be the case and thinks the Warriors still have it in them to contend for an NBA championship next season. He might disagree with the franchise’s assessment that their roster, as presently constructed, cannot compete for a championship.
The Warriors haven’t landed another star player, but not because of a lack of effort. They were rebuffed in their efforts to trade for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen. The franchise may look to wait till the season begins, as one-star player or more may become available after demanding an exit.
Landing another superstar and extending the Warriors’ championship window is perhaps the only way to ensure Stephen Curry remains a Warrior for life, something he said recently that he wants to do. But he will most likely look for greener pastures if the franchise cannot compete for more championships.
