LOADING UP
The 2016-17 Warriors are far from the first “super team.” Here’s a look back at other notable super teams from the four major pro sports.
NFL • 1994 49ers
After consecutive NFC title game losses to Dallas, San Francisco added veterans Ken Norton Jr., Rickey Jackson, Richard Dent and later in the season, star cornerback Deion Sanders. The 49ers finished with an NFL-best 13-3 and won the Super Bowl easily over San Diego.
NFL • 1995 Cowboys
Dallas signed Deion Sanders away from rival San Francisco. With the core of its 1992-93 championship teams still around, the star-studded Cowboys beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. They haven’t been back to the NFC Championship Game since then.
MLB • 2004 Yankees
The Yankees loaded up in the offseason, adding sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield as well as starting pitchers Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez. On the cusp of the World Series, they collapsed in the ALCS against archrival Boston, becoming the first MLB team to blow a 3-0 series lead.
NBA • 1999-00 Trail Blazers
Portland traded for veterans Scottie Pippen and Steve Smith and signed Detlef Schrempf. The revamped Blazers made it to Game 7 of the Western Conference final, but infamously blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost to the Lakers. The franchise didn’t win another playoff series until 2014.
NBA • 2007-08 Celtics
After missing the playoffs two straight years, Celtics GM Danny Ainge added stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in franchise-altering trades to create a “Big Three” with Paul Pierce. The Celtics improved by 42 wins — the biggest single-season turnaround in league history — and won their first NBA championship in 22 years.
NHL • 2001-02 Red Wings
After a first-round ouster, Detroit went on a shopping spree, adding future Hall of Fame goalie Dominik Hasek via trade and Hall of Fame wingers Luc Robitaille and Brett Hull in free agency. With nine future Hall of Famers in the lineup, the Red Wings finished with the league’s best record and won the Stanley Cup.
NBA • 2010-11 Heat
The Heat added LeBron James and Chris Bosh to form a “Big Three” with Dwyane Wade. They made it to the NBA Finals but were upset in six games by Dallas. Miami went on to win titles in 2012 and 2013 before losing to San Antonio in the 2014 Finals in James’ final season before returning to Cleveland.
NFL • 2011 Eagles
The offseason pickups of Nmadi Asomugha, Ronnie Brown, Vince Young and Evan Mathis led Young to infamously dub the Eagles a “dream team.” The Super Bowl dream died ignominiously with an 8-8 finish and no playoffs in the City of Brotherly Love.
NBA • 2003-04 Lakers
After seeing their run of three straight titles end that summer, the Lakers added veteran stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the Shaquille O’Neal/ Kobe Bryant nucleus. They made it to the NBA Finals but were drubbed in five games by the unheralded Pistons in a big upset.
NHL • 2003-04 Avalanche
The Avalanche added star scorers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne to its core group that won the Stanley Cup two years earlier. However, Colorado only finished fourth in the Western Conference before being ousted in the second round by San Jose.