A battle of ‘super team’ antidotes
SAN FRANCISCO — During this series, the Memphis Grizzlies can look over at the opposing bench and daydream of being in the 2030 playoffs together.
Because the Golden State Warriors are showing them it’s possible.
In an ever-changing league, where the biggest news comes with July free-agent signings, the Warriors are a beacon of stability. Successful stability. Seven years after homegrown players — Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson — won their first championship, the core is among the NBA’s elite again.
“It’s very, very special,” Thompson said. “I did not envision this 10 years ago.
“I’m just so grateful to be with these guys and compete at the highest level and have these stories for life. It’s special ... and we still want more.”
The Ja Morant-led Grizzlies look a lot like the Warriors did in 2015 when four drafted players — the core-three plus Harrison Barnes — along with Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala, anchored the first championship roster.
“The similarities, organizationally, are really striking,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said, “in terms of drafting well, player development, signing the right free agents and then putting a roster together that makes a lot of sense . ... Historically that’s what the league is about: young teams trying to break through and knock off the veteran teams.”
The young Grizzlies are trying to knock off the veteran Warriors. But both teams, flourishing with their own drafted players, are a strong and enjoyable counterargument to the “super team” era that the NBA was supposed to be in.
The super teams — collections of stars who decide they want to play together — are sitting on the sidelines right now. The Nets, Kevin Durant’s super team (Kyrie Irving says he “and Kev are managing this franchise together”) were swept out of the first round. The Lakers, and LeBron James’ badly mismatched super roster, never made it to the postseason. The Clippers, built around injured Kawhi Leonard, have never gained any momentum.
The Warriors, of course, were once considered a super team, and their success ignited the league’s animosity. But the truth is that the first two of their five consecutive NBA Finals runs were fueled by their drafted core. They added Durant and won two titles and might have won a third if not for injury, but one addition to a homegrown roster doesn’t fully count — at least not in my mind — as a super team.
Not in the way the Miami Heat were after James made his “decision.” Not in the way the Lakers were in their 2020 pandemic championship after James’ team acquired Anthony Davis. Not the way the Nets tried to create a “big three” that ended up being two after James Harden’s exit, though one — Irving — could only play half the season.
“Whether homegrown or done in free agency ... building a championship team is hard no matter how you do it,” Green said. “Everybody plays by the same (salary) cap. Everyone has the same luxury tax, too. So, I have an appreciation for any team that can put together a championship roster.”
But while player movement and big stars coming to a team is exciting in the moment, the success of a homegrown team is far more satisfying in the long run.
Recognizable names. Beloved legends. The pleasure of watching a player come in as a youngster — often a teenager — and grow into a league star is more sustainable than the thrill that comes from watching a great player arrive and continue to be great for a time.
Is it blasphemy to say that Warriors fans could end up loving Jordan Poole in a deeper way than they loved Durant? Given Durant’s sour final year and strained departure, and Poole’s evolution from 28th pick to G League frustration to young playoff star complementing the vets, it seems possible.
“I know our fans have loved the continuity that we’ve had,” Kerr said. “And I’m sure Memphis is feeling the same way. Grizzlies’ fans get to watch Ja and Jaren Jackson and guys like (Kyle) Anderson and (Brandon) Clarke — they’re home grown for the most part … and you add pieces here and there.
“The fans get comfortable, and they get happy watching these guys. They become part of the family. I know our fans have loved that about our team.”
The Warriors are trying to do the hard part: keep the beloved core and grow around it, with Poole and Jonathan Kuminga and — eventually — James Wiseman and Moses Moody.
“Different type of guys coming together and building synergy and chemistry,” Curry said. “Our way of having built success and sustaining it — there’s a pride of our culture, our DNA kind of taking over and continuing to prove that we can win at the highest level.
“That’s what we want to control as long as we can. Because you know, in the league those examples are hard to find.”
Ten years ago, Thompson couldn’t envision playing together for a decade with his teammates. So, what did he envision?
“I didn’t think about championships or breaking records or changing the game,” he said. “I just thought about trying to stick in the NBA and find my place as a player.”
He certainly did that, along with the other homegrown Warriors. And, together, they’re still going.