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Great teams are often remembered for their ability to dominate eras without compromise, to define a style of play and stand unchallenged for years.
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In the 2010s, no franchise commanded more attention than the Golden State Warriors. They turned long-range shooting into a weapon of mass destruction, shattered regular-season records, and forced an entire league to adapt.
Yet for all the accolades and historic runs, there remains a section of the basketball world that does not consider them one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Among the voices in that group is Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, whose six championships in the 1990s give him a rare vantage point when judging dynasties.
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“You say they’re on a dynasty run, but I don’t see it that way,” Pippen said. “They picked up probably the best player in the game after they won their first championship. I don’t consider that a dynasty run. They went out and got the best player in the game after they won their first championship and after they lost in the Finals defending their first title.”
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When the Bulls reigned in the 1990s, the roster evolved slowly, and victories came against Hall of Fame competition without a blockbuster mid-reign acquisition of the league’s top player. In June 2016, the Golden State had just completed a record-breaking 73-9 regular season, an achievement that seemed destined to cement them among the all-time greats.
However, their campaign ended in shock when LeBron James and the Cavaliers erased a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, delivering Cleveland its first championship in franchise history. The Warriors responded with a move that shook the league. Kevin Durant, a four-time scoring champion and the 2014 MVP, left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the very team that had eliminated him weeks earlier.
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“I don’t see them as a dynasty,” Pippen said. “I think bringing Kevin Durant in really changed my respect as to where I rank this team going forward in terms of a dynasty.”
He feels that Durant's addition tipped the balance in a way that distorts the historical comparison. His respect for the Warriors' original core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green is clear, but he separates their 2015 title and 2022 comeback from the Durant-led years, which he views differently in the dynasty conversation.
What remains undeniable is that Golden State built a dominant team. Whether or not they sit alongside the 1990s Bulls, the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, or the early 2000s San Antonio Spurs is a conversation that will likely never reach full consensus.
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In the 2010s, no franchise commanded more attention than the Golden State Warriors. They turned long-range shooting into a weapon of mass destruction, shattered regular-season records, and forced an entire league to adapt.
Yet for all the accolades and historic runs, there remains a section of the basketball world that does not consider them one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Among the voices in that group is Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, whose six championships in the 1990s give him a rare vantage point when judging dynasties.
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Not a dynasty
Pippen’s perspective is shaped by his era, which was defined by rosters built to last, squads that faced the same core opponents year after year and overcame them without significant external reinforcements. That context colors his view of the Warriors, whose journey from upstart contender to perennial champion included a seismic shift in the summer of 2016.“You say they’re on a dynasty run, but I don’t see it that way,” Pippen said. “They picked up probably the best player in the game after they won their first championship. I don’t consider that a dynasty run. They went out and got the best player in the game after they won their first championship and after they lost in the Finals defending their first title.”
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When the Bulls reigned in the 1990s, the roster evolved slowly, and victories came against Hall of Fame competition without a blockbuster mid-reign acquisition of the league’s top player. In June 2016, the Golden State had just completed a record-breaking 73-9 regular season, an achievement that seemed destined to cement them among the all-time greats.
However, their campaign ended in shock when LeBron James and the Cavaliers erased a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, delivering Cleveland its first championship in franchise history. The Warriors responded with a move that shook the league. Kevin Durant, a four-time scoring champion and the 2014 MVP, left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the very team that had eliminated him weeks earlier.
The Golden State dynasty
Statistics alone might suggest that the Warriors belong in the pantheon. Between 2015 and 2022, they secured four championships, weathered injuries, roster turnover, and even a two-year absence from playoff contention, only to return and win again. In that same span, no other franchise claimed more than one title.ADVERTISEMENT
“I don’t see them as a dynasty,” Pippen said. “I think bringing Kevin Durant in really changed my respect as to where I rank this team going forward in terms of a dynasty.”
He feels that Durant's addition tipped the balance in a way that distorts the historical comparison. His respect for the Warriors' original core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green is clear, but he separates their 2015 title and 2022 comeback from the Durant-led years, which he views differently in the dynasty conversation.
What remains undeniable is that Golden State built a dominant team. Whether or not they sit alongside the 1990s Bulls, the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, or the early 2000s San Antonio Spurs is a conversation that will likely never reach full consensus.
NBA players definitely got the worst takes in all of sports.