Special Editor : Rookie, Donghwan Lee

Basketball is rich with history, stories, and significance. We bring you the narratives behind the game's surface.

※ This content is brought to you in collaboration with Eland Museum and Korea's leading basketball magazine, Rookie.

Time passes, and dynasties fade. The Golden State Warriors are no exception. This season, they are struggling, holding a 27-26 record and sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference.

 

 

However, there was a time when the Golden State Warriors epitomized dominance—specifically, the 2016-2017 season.

In the summer of 2016, a sudden increase in the salary cap gave the Warriors unexpected financial flexibility. They made a bold move by signing Kevin Durant, the top free agent that year. Durant accepted their offer, joining a team that had just set an NBA record with 73 wins the previous season. This move created an unprecedented powerhouse. 

 

 

The phrase "It's the Warriors' championship to lose" became popular that season.

 

Despite an unexpected 29-point loss to San Antonio in the season opener, the Warriors bounced back to win 16 of their next 17 games, including a 12-game winning streak.

The Warriors comfortably secured the league's top spot by finishing the regular season with a 67-15 record. Their dominance continued in the playoffs. They swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, the Utah Jazz in the second round, and the San Antonio Spurs in the third round, extending their winning streak to 12 games as they advanced to the Finals.

The Warriors won the first three games against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, coming close to a perfect playoff run. Although they lost Game 4, ending their hopes for an undefeated postseason, they ultimately secured the championship with a 16-1 playoff record. This 94.1% winning percentage remains the highest in a single postseason in NBA history, surpassing the 2001 Lakers' 15-1 record led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

※ Highest Single Postseason Winning Percentages in NBA history
1. Golden State Warriors (2017): 94.1% (16-1)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (2001): 93.8% (15-1)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (1983): 92.3% (12-1)
4. San Antonio Spurs (1999): 88.2% (15-2)
5.Chicago Bulls (1991): 88.2% (15-2)
6. Detroit Pistons (1989): 88.2% (15-2)

Now, fans in Korea can experience the greatness of the 2017 Golden State Warriors firsthand.

The "Greatest 75 Basketball Players Exhibition" will showcase over 150 NBA game-worn items. Notably, it will feature the game ball used in Game 1 of the 2017 Finals, signed by Stephen Curry. Curry's 2022 All-Star Game-worn hoodie and signed photographs will also be displayed. 

  

 

 

Discover more Treasures

from E-Land Museum on Instagram!