Forty years. It has been forty years since a Golden State Warriors team has hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy, and stood alone as the NBA’s best team. The championship won by the 1974-75 Warriors was the third title won by the franchise but the first that was done so in the Bay Area.
This past Sunday night during the Warriors 107-76 rout of the Washington Wizards, the legends from that championship team were honored for the 40th year anniversary. Seven members from that team, including Rick Barry, Jamaal Wilkes, and head coach Alvin Attles, held a press conference before the game and were welcomed onto the court by the Oracle crowd at one of the quarter breaks.
Associated Press writer Antonio Gonzalez gave a brief description of how the season played out that ultimately led the the one and only NBA championship for Bay Area basketball fans.
Before the 1974-75 season, nobody expected Golden State to be a serious contender after trading Thurmond to Chicago. Instead, the Warriors went 48-34 and won the Pacific Division. They rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the Western Conference finals against the Bulls and swept Washington in the NBA Finals.
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“People just underestimated us. They really did,” Barry said. “It’s still the greatest upset in the finals history of the NBA without question. There’s nothing even close to it.”
One thing that coach Steve Kerr has stressed is that the Warriors need to be able to compete with the bigger front lines that they will likely face at some point during the playoffs. During a press conference held before Monday’s game, Barry agreed.
“They have to impose their will on the other team, and play the way they’re capable of playing at their best,” the Hall of Famer said. “They’ve got to rebound, push the ball and play Warriors basketball, and not get caught up in that nonsense that exists in the NBA in the playoffs.”
“I hope that they stay healthy because I think they have a real, legitimate shot of bringing the second championship to the Golden State Warriors,” said Barry, the 1975 NBA Finals MVP.
Barry also pointed to similarities in team chemistry while comparing the 1974-75 and the 2014-15 squads. Carl Steward of the Bay Area News Group, who was also in attendance:
Barry said forward Draymond Green is a “very important part of this team” and singled out former All-Stars David Lee and Andre Iguodala for accepting bench roles.
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“It’s just awesome,” he said. “That’s why this is a special team that they have. They’re committed to defense, they’re a great offensive team, and they’re selfless. Great combination.”
After the Wizards game, Kerr was asked if he had talked to the present-day Warriors about any references that have been made to the ’75 championship squad.
“We look at their banner everyday (at the Warriors’ practice facility),” Kerr said. “They have ‘TOGETHERNESS’ written on their championship rings.”
[NOTE: Poor Man’s Commish contributed to this report.]
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