The 2015–16 Golden State Warriors are etched in history for both greatness and heartbreak. With a record-setting 73–9 regular season, they broke the Chicago Bulls’ 72–10 mark, and Steph Curry became the league’s first-ever unanimous MVP, averaging over 30 points while shooting 45% from three. They were unstoppable—until they weren’t.
After a tough seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals (where they trailed 3–1), the Warriors faced off with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Golden State quickly built a 3–1 series lead, looking ready to cement their legacy. But then, disaster struck.
Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5 after accumulating too many flagrant foul points—following an incident with LeBron. That game became a turning point. LeBron and Kyrie Irving both scored 41 points, stunning the Warriors. Game 6 saw LeBron dominate again. Then came Game 7: with under two minutes left, LeBron’s iconic chase-down block on Andre Iguodala, followed by Kyrie’s clutch three-pointer, sealed the greatest comeback in Finals history.
Golden State didn’t just lose a game—they lost their shot at being considered the greatest team of all time. The sting was so deep, Kevin Durant joined the Warriors that summer, creating a new superteam. The 73–9 season remains a bittersweet monument to near-perfection—and painful collapse.
