A dominant team in the Western Conference is emerging. This franchise hasn`t secured an NBA championship since the 1970s, yet, powered by a 26-year-old guard recently awarded his first MVP, it almost achieved 70 wins, posted a significant double-digit point differential, and clinched the Western Conference finals in just five games.
Naturally, I`m referring to the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors, who made their first appearance in what would become five consecutive Finals trips exactly a decade ago this week.
However, these exact characteristics also describe the 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder, who secured their spot in the Finals with a dominant 124-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Thunder aren`t just reaching the Finals; they are a historically outstanding team that remarkably parallels the Warriors of a decade past, sharing several striking similarities.
In the mid-2010s, it was hardly predictable that the Warriors, who hadn`t even reached the conference finals during the early Stephen Curry years, would evolve into the decade`s defining powerhouse. Yet, they achieved this status through consistent Finals appearances. Likewise, the Thunder hadn`t made it to the conference finals in the first half of the 2020s, but they are now positioned to potentially dominate the remainder of the decade and perhaps establish their own enduring dynasty.
| Statistic | 2014-15 Warriors | 2024-25 Thunder |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 67-15 | 68-14 |
| Point Differential | +10.1 | +12.9 |
| Offensive Rank | 2nd | 3rd |
| Defensive Rank | 1st | 1st |
| Playoff Record | 16-5 | 12-4 |
Statistical comparison between the two teams` breakthrough seasons.
The parallels begin with the age profiles of the two squads. The 2015 Warriors currently hold the record for the youngest title-winning team since 1980, with an average age (weighted by playoff minutes) of 26.4 years. The Thunder are even younger, averaging 24.7 years.
This youthful composition extends to their primary scorers, both hitting similar milestones in their impressive careers. Stephen Curry was 26 during the 2014-15 season, mirroring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander`s age now. A decade ago, Curry posted a 63.8% true shooting percentage during his first MVP run. This season, the newly crowned MVP Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a nearly identical 63.7% true shooting percentage. (Remarkably, Curry`s 2015 season remains the most recent instance of an MVP winner also claiming the championship, a feat SGA now has the opportunity to match.)
Their key supporting players also present striking parallels. During the Warriors` initial championship push, Klay Thompson was a 24-year-old standout on both ends of the court, earning his first All-NBA Third Team selection. Similarly, Jalen Williams is a 23-year-old two-way talent who also made the All-NBA Third Team this year. Draymond Green was a 24-year-old versatile player from the Midwest recognized with First-Team All-Defense honors. Chet Holmgren, a 22-year-old unique talent (or “unicorn”) also from the Midwest, led the league in rim protection and would have been a strong contender for All-Defensive honors if he had met the eligibility criteria.
The comparisons continue. Andre Iguodala was a 31-year-old defensive specialist who significantly boosted the Warriors` performance coming off the bench. Alex Caruso fulfills a similar role for the Thunder, being just a year younger. Iguodala famously won Finals MVP that year. Might Caruso achieve the same surprising distinction?
Andrew Bogut was a strong defensive center from abroad who typically started but often didn`t play key closing minutes, averaging 23 minutes during Golden State`s playoff run. Isaiah Hartenstein fits this description almost exactly, playing 24 minutes.
Furthermore, both teams executed crucial roster moves prioritizing defense over offense as they constructed their squads. While the timing isn`t a perfect match, the Warriors traded skilled guard Monta Ellis because Stephen Curry was a superior playmaker, finding that an elite defender like Andrew Bogut was a better team fit. The Thunder similarly traded gifted guard Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls, concluding that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the better offensive engine and that an elite defender like Alex Caruso fit their rotation needs more effectively.
Golden State and Oklahoma City navigated remarkably similar playoff paths to reach the Finals, overcoming doubts from critics about whether their impressive regular-season performance would translate to postseason success. Recall the widespread skepticism a decade ago that a team reliant on three-pointers like the Warriors couldn`t succeed in the playoffs? This resonates strongly with this year`s narrative suggesting opponents didn`t “fear” the Thunder due to their lack of prior championship experience.
Both the 2015 Warriors and 2025 Thunder swept their first-round opponents (the No. 8 seeds), notably featuring a significant comeback victory in Game 3 of that series. Golden State rallied from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit in New Orleans, highlighted by Stephen Curry`s incredible game-tying three. Oklahoma City similarly erased a 29-point disadvantage in Memphis.
Following that, both teams faced a tough challenge in the second round against veteran, experienced playoff teams, finding themselves trailing 2-1 in the series. The Warriors fought back against the “Grit `N Grind” Memphis Grizzlies, ultimately winning in six games. The Thunder overcame the recent champion Denver Nuggets in seven games, utilizing multiple fourth-quarter rallies.
Both teams employed innovative defensive strategies to secure victories. The Warriors tasked Andrew Bogut with guarding non-shooter Tony Allen, while the Thunder assigned Alex Caruso to defend three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
In the conference finals, both teams defeated opponents featuring a rising star guard (James Harden for the Houston Rockets then, Anthony Edwards for the Minnesota Timberwolves now) and a multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year at center (Dwight Howard then, Rudy Gobert now). Both the Thunder and Warriors triumphed in five games.
These analogous playoff runs likely stem from their similar statistical profiles. While the Warriors are often remembered for their groundbreaking offense and pioneering the three-point revolution, their initial championship squad was actually stronger defensively. Golden State was ranked first in defensive rating and second in offensive rating, closely mirroring the Thunder`s rankings this season (first in defensive rating, third in offense).
Both teams conceded considerably more free throws than they shot, yet they excelled at scoring off turnovers and could overwhelm opponents with rapid scoring bursts.
Perhaps the most significant link between these two dominant teams in the broader context is that the 2014-15 season wasn`t the peak for Golden State, and the same may hold true for Oklahoma City. Looking back, the Warriors` remarkable 2014-15 campaign is clearly identifiable as the beginning of something extraordinary, not the culmination. They achieved superior point differentials in the subsequent 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons and went on to win multiple championships after their first.
Likewise, it`s easily conceivable that the Thunder could have even more successful seasons ahead, considering their young roster and flexibility. Better injury luck could also benefit them; they played at a 70-win pace when either Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein (or both) were available, but struggled during stretches when both big men were absent.
After all, the Thunder already set a new NBA record for point differential this season. With another year of development, is it truly difficult to imagine them challenging the regular-season win record (73 wins) next year, especially since the Warriors set that benchmark the season *after* their first Finals appearance?
However, two main challenges could hinder Oklahoma City`s potential to build a dynasty comparable to the Warriors` recent run. Firstly, the NBA`s new “apron” salary cap rules might force a premature dismantling of the Thunder`s valuable roster depth.
To retain their championship core long-term, the Warriors had the highest payroll in the NBA during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, accumulating a total of $86 million in luxury tax penalties over those two years. A decade later, the question isn`t merely whether Oklahoma City`s ownership is willing to spend so heavily, but whether the stricter new apron limitations might make such sustained spending impossible.
Secondly, the Warriors significantly prolonged their period of dominance by signing Kevin Durant while he was in his prime.
It`s interesting to consider how Golden State`s dynasty might have developed had Durant chosen to sign elsewhere or remained with the Thunder in 2016. It`s not that the Warriors would have immediately fallen apart without him; they had just achieved a record 73 regular-season wins and likely would have won the championship that year were it not for Draymond Green`s Finals suspension.
However, the Cleveland Cavaliers arguably fielded their strongest team of the second LeBron James era in 2017, starting the playoffs 12-1 en route to the Finals. Furthermore, Western Conference contenders like the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets were improving. It`s probable that Golden State wouldn`t have made five consecutive Finals appearances without Kevin Durant.
(Further hypotheticals are easy to imagine. If Durant hadn`t joined the Warriors, would Zaza Pachulia have been involved in the play that injured Kawhi Leonard in the 2017 conference finals? Would Daryl Morey have acquired Chris Paul to create the Rockets` first 60-win team? Would the Thunder have even traded for Paul George as a successor to Durant, thereby initiating the sequence of events that brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Oklahoma City?)
Regardless, Durant`s decision to join Golden State represented an unprecedented event in basketball history, forming what many consider the greatest team ever assembled: the 2016-17 Warriors, who dominated the playoffs with a remarkable 16-1 record.
Unless the Thunder manage to win the championship and somehow acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, imagining a similarly impactful roster addition for Oklahoma City is unrealistic. This factor alone might cast doubt on the Thunder`s capacity to dominate the latter half of the 2020s to the extent Golden State controlled the 2010s.
However, the Thunder possess an advantage the Warriors lacked. Aside from Kevin Durant, Golden State didn`t substantially augment its core group after achieving initial success. Among the top 10 Warriors in total playoff minutes across their five consecutive Finals appearances, eight were already on the team when the 2014-15 season commenced. The only additions were Durant and Kevon Looney, who joined in the summer of 2016 through free agency and the draft, respectively.
Golden State made minimal use of the draft following their key selections of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Harrison Barnes between 2009 and 2012. Due to various trades, the Warriors made only three draft picks from 2013 to 2018. While Kevon Looney proved successful, Damian Jones and Jacob Evans did not develop significantly. They also acquired players like Jordan Bell, Patrick McCaw, and Nemanja Nedovic via draft night trades, none of whom became consistent long-term contributors.
In contrast to the Warriors, the Thunder possess an abundance of draft assets, including all their own future picks plus numerous first-round selections or pick swaps acquired from the Miami Heat, LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks. This substantial collection provides Oklahoma City with significantly more opportunities to build upon their young core trio, a necessity considering the salary cap challenges faced by deep, star-heavy rosters in today`s NBA.
The concept of an Oklahoma City dynasty might feel distant since they haven`t yet claimed their first championship. However, the Thunder are widely considered favorites to win, and if they succeed, they will be better positioned to sustain their success than any recent NBA champion.
Following this extensive list of similarities, this broader context might actually represent the most significant difference between the 2015 Warriors and the 2025 Thunder. Golden State rose to prominence as the newest iteration in a long tradition of NBA dynasties. From 1999 to 2014, every single NBA Finals involved either the Lakers, Spurs, or Heat, and winning back-to-back championships was commonplace.
In stark contrast, as Oklahoma City climbs to the top, the NBA is guaranteed to crown its seventh different champion in the last seven seasons. No defending champion has advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs since the 2018-19 Warriors.
Nevertheless, the stage is set for the NBA`s next great dynasty. The Thunder appear to be following the Warriors` successful blueprint from a decade ago. They have built a formidable core trio supported by the right complementary players. They have successfully navigated challenging playoff series. And they seem poised to become the defining team of the 2020s, much like the Warriors defined the NBA landscape throughout the 2010s.
