The last time the NBA had a superteam, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade reigned supreme as members of the Miami Heat.
That team is in the past. The NBA's present belongs to the Golden State Warriors, who are somehow even more dominant than those Miami teams ever were, despite fielding just one superstar instead of three.
The biggest difference between the two teams is their perception. While the Heat were loathed, and branded as villains, Golden State is, for the most part, beloved by fans worldwide.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr attributes the differing attitudes to roster construction.
"There's none of that negativity (that Miami faced) because the team is homegrown," Kerr told Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Miami's "Big Three" infamously banded together in the summer of 2010. Not only did three top-10 talents opt to conjoin, they also flaunted their ascension. James had the public relations disaster that was "The Decision," and all three players took part in a gaudy, self-congratulatory introduction before they'd even played a game together.
The Warriors, meanwhile, mostly built through the draft. Their three All-Stars - Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green - were all picked by Golden State through shrewd drafting, and their biggest free-agent addition was Andre Iguodala, who hardly ranks as a marquee addition on the scale of Bosh or James.
That's the dynamic for now, and the Warriors are still widely revered. But if Golden State manages to lure Kevin Durant to the Bay Area this summer, that image could change quickly.
Kerr: Warriors aren't resented because team is 'homegrown'
That team is in the past. The NBA's present belongs to the Golden State Warriors, who are somehow even more dominant than those Miami teams ever were, despite fielding just one superstar instead of three.
The biggest difference between the two teams is their perception. While the Heat were loathed, and branded as villains, Golden State is, for the most part, beloved by fans worldwide.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr attributes the differing attitudes to roster construction.
"There's none of that negativity (that Miami faced) because the team is homegrown," Kerr told Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Miami's "Big Three" infamously banded together in the summer of 2010. Not only did three top-10 talents opt to conjoin, they also flaunted their ascension. James had the public relations disaster that was "The Decision," and all three players took part in a gaudy, self-congratulatory introduction before they'd even played a game together.
The Warriors, meanwhile, mostly built through the draft. Their three All-Stars - Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green - were all picked by Golden State through shrewd drafting, and their biggest free-agent addition was Andre Iguodala, who hardly ranks as a marquee addition on the scale of Bosh or James.
That's the dynamic for now, and the Warriors are still widely revered. But if Golden State manages to lure Kevin Durant to the Bay Area this summer, that image could change quickly.
Kerr: Warriors aren't resented because team is 'homegrown'
Says more about the difference between the Bay Area and San Antonio if anything.
