Golden State Warriors 2015-2016 : The 73 Wins That Revolutionized the NBA

Seventy-three wins. A number that speaks for itself. The Golden State Warriors’ 2015–2016 season remains a statistical anomaly and a turning point in the evolution of modern basketball. It is the story of a team that pushed the boundaries of the three-point shot to steal the record from Michael Jordan’s Bulls, only to stumble at the final hurdle. A look back at a season of extremes, where Stephen Curry redrew the geometry of the court.

The Context: From Champions to Record-Breakers

After winning the title in 2015, the Warriors are no longer the underdogs—they’re the team everyone wants to beat. Led by Steve Kerr (brilliantly filled in for by Luke Walton during his recovery early in the season), the team is built on a solid foundation and a core in its prime: the “Splash Brothers” duo (Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson) and defensive leader Draymond Green.

Bolstered by a 67-win season last year, the Californians are entering the season with unshakable confidence. The goal quickly shifts from simply defending the title to the pursuit of absolute excellence. The message sent to the rest of the league is clear: the pace is going to pick up, and teams will have to adapt or fall behind.

The Regular Season: The Rise to 73 Wins

The start was explosive. Golden State racked up 24 consecutive wins right off the bat, the best start in the history of major American sports. The team played fluid basketball, based on constant movement and lethal long-range shooting.

At the end of the 82-game season, the verdict was in: 73 wins and 9 losses. The legendary 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls record (72-10) was officially broken.

Individually, Stephen Curry delivered a career-defining season that made him the first-ever unanimous MVP. His averages (30.1 points, 6.7 assists, and entry into the very exclusive 50-40-90 shooting percentage club) are exceptional, but it’s his volume that’s staggering: he shatters his own record with 402 made three-pointers. Collectively, the franchise leads the league with 114.9 points scored per game and a Net Rating (offense/defense differential) of +10.3, proving that their famous small-ball style is just as stifling on the other end of the court.

The Playoffs Campaign: From Epic to Nightmare

What was supposed to be the culmination of a perfect season turned into a chaotic journey, pushing the team to its physical and mental limits.

The loss in Game 7, on their home court, was brutal. The Warriors were unable to turn their record-breaking season into a championship.

The Legacy : A Revolution Without a Ring

The 2015–2016 season holds a unique place in NBA history for three major reasons :

– Redefining what’s possible: With 73 wins, Golden State proved that a level of dominance in the regular season – thought to be untouchable since the Jordan era – could be surpassed.

– The tactical shift: This team acted as a catalyst for modern basketball. Court spacing, the explosion in the volume of three-point shots in transition, and the effectiveness of the “Death Lineup” (a starting five without a true center) forced all franchises to rethink their approach to the game.

– The Finals defeat: Which gave us one of the greatest Finals in NBA history, if not the greatest. With a storyline worthy of Space Jam and a Game 7 for the history books. They could have been the greatest team of all time.

While the absence of the Larry O’Brien Trophy leaves a bitter taste, it does not erase the impact this group had on the sport. It is the story of total tactical dominance that ultimately succumbed to the unpredictable nature of sports. A majestic and tragic anomaly that permanently changed the way basketball is played today.

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Une publication partagée par Paris Basketball 🏀 (@parisbasketball)