The Golden State Warriors are pursuing their second consecutive NBA title, and their third championship in the last four seasons, which could solidify them as one of the NBA's greatest teams of all-time. Even in the year that Golden State fell short in the NBA Finals, they set an NBA record by going 73-9 during the regular season.
On top of that, the Warriors are poised to have a few more seasons at the top of the NBA food chain which could mean even more rings and banners in seasons to come, though nothing is guaranteed.
Despite all of Golden State's accolades and their promising future, NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen says he doesn't see the Warriors as a "dynasty." In a recent interview with Dime Magazine, Pippen explained why the Warriors adding Kevin Durant following the 2016 NBA Finals puts a damper on their dynasty aspirations.
Of course, there's a slim chance Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Steph Curry and the rest of the Warriors give a damn what Scottie Pippen has to say about their legacy, but here are his thoughts anyway.
Per Dime:
“You say they’re on a dynasty run, but I don’t see it that way,” Pippen told Dime. “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. I don’t see them as a dynasty, I think bringing Kevin Durant in really changed my respect as to where I rank this team going forward in terms of a dynasty.”
“I thought they were organically built up until they went out and got Durant,” Pippen says. “And I think that was the change, but I don’t really see Golden State as a dynasty. Dynasties are teams that does things special, does things different. Even in the year that they won 73 games, they lost the title. So I can’t consider that part of their dynasty. That wasn’t a dynasty season. So then they came back the next season and won a title, so I can’t back track and say let’s add last season to it because Kevin Durant wasn’t with them at that time.”
The Warriors will look to take a 2-0 series lead against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight. Game 2 is scheduled to air on TNT at 10:30pm ET.