2016–17 Golden State Warriors season
The 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season was the 71st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association, and its 55th in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Warriors won their fifth NBA Championship, setting the best postseason record in NBA history by going. They entered the season as runners-up in the 2016 NBA Finals, after a record breaking regular-season in 2015–16. With the acquisition of free agent Kevin Durant in the offseason, the Warriors were hailed as a "Superteam" by the media and fans, forming a new All-Star "Fantastic Four" of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The Warriors broke over 20 NBA records on their way to equaling their 2014–15 regular-season record of, their second most wins in franchise history.
In the postseason, Golden State clinched the top seed in the playoffs for the third successive year. The Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4–0 in the first round, the Utah Jazz 4–0 in the Western Conference semi-finals and the San Antonio Spurs 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors claimed their fifth NBA Championship by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1 in the NBA Finals, the first time in NBA history two teams have met for a third consecutive year. Golden State became the first team ever to start in the playoffs and their fifteen straight wins were the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. They also became the first team in all four major professional sports in America to start 15–0 in the postseason. The Warriors set the best playoff record in NBA history by going 16–1.
Golden State won the Pacific Division title and Western Conference Championship for the third consecutive season. The Warriors became only the second team in NBA history to win 30 road games in back-to-back seasons, joining the 1995–96 and 1996–97 Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry set numerous three-point NBA records this season; including most three-pointers made in a single game with 13 and most consecutive games with a made three-pointer with 196. Curry also surpassed 300 three-pointers in the regular-season for the second time in NBA history; he finished with 324.
Draymond Green won the Defensive Player of the Year Award at the NBA Awards, the first time a Warrior has won it. Kevin Durant won the NBA Finals MVP award, the third time a Warrior has won it. The Warriors won the Team of the Year Award at the Espy Awards. Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all named to the All-Star Game, the first time Golden State have had four All-Stars and just the eighth time in NBA history a single team has had four players in the game. The Warriors were the only team with multiple players named to the All-NBA Team this season, with Curry, Durant and Green all selected. Bob Myers won the Executive of the Year Award, his second win in three years. The Warriors became the fastest team in NBA history to clinch a playoff berth since the playoff format changed in 1984.
Season synopsis
Preseason
The 2016 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2016, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Warriors chose center Damian Jones out of Vanderbilt with the 30th pick of the first round. They also acquired the draft rights of swingman Patrick McCaw, the 38th pick of the second round. Warriors forwards Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green and guard Klay Thompson were selected to participate on the 2016 USA Basketball National Team that competed in the 2016 Olympic Games. The Warriors were the only team with three representatives on the Olympic squad. Stephen Curry withdrew from selection due to injury.On July 4, seven time All-star forward Kevin Durant announced he was leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Warriors. To clear cap space for Durant, the Warriors traded Andrew Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks and didn't match offers for five of their out of contract free agents, losing Harrison Barnes to the Dallas Mavericks, Brandon Rush to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Leandro Barbosa to the Phoenix Suns, Festus Ezeli to the Portland Trail Blazers and Marreese Speights to the Los Angeles Clippers. Golden State added veteran big men Zaza Pachulia and David West to their roster and retained Ian Clark, James Michael McAdoo and Anderson Varejão. The Warriors added Mike Brown as assistant coach on July 6, replacing Luke Walton, who left to take over as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach.
On August 21, the United States beat Serbia 96–66 at the Rio Summer Olympics to win the Gold medal. Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green joined Chris Mullin, as the only Warriors players to capture Olympic Gold medals. Durant led the team by averaging 19.4 points during Team USA's 8–0 run to victory.
The Warriors lost their opening preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on October 1, they then beat the Clippers, Kings, Nuggets, Lakers and Trail Blazers, to finish preparation for the season with a 6–1 record. Kevin Durant led the team in scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game, followed by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. On October 20, Golden State finalized their 15-man roster, with the addition of free agent center JaVale McGee.
Regular season
The Warriors opened the season on October 25, 2016, with a 29-point home loss to the San Antonio Spurs in which Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 35 points. They would respond by winning their next 4 games, including a 26-point victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on November 3. This marked the first and highly anticipated meeting between former teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant scored 39 points in the win, the most by any player debuting against his former team.After having his streak of consecutive games with a three-pointer come to an end the previous game, Stephen Curry set a new record of 13 three-pointers made in a single game during a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on November 7.
On January 26, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all named to the All-Star Game, the first time Golden State have had four All-Stars and just the eighth time in NBA history a single team has had four players in the game. Golden State's Steve Kerr coached the Western Conference team.
On February 25, with the Warriors winning against the Brooklyn Nets, they secured a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season, the first team in the league for the second consecutive season, and the fastest in the NBA history, beating out their record last season by two days.
Postseason
In the playoffs, the Warriors clinched the top seed in the playoffs for the third successive year. The Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers in their first round, 4 games to 0, even when Kevin Durant were out for Games 2 and 3. In the semifinals round, the Warriors were up against the Utah Jazz for the first time since the 2007 Semifinals round. In Game 3 of the series, Kevin Durant scored a playoff-high 38 points with the Warriors as he led the Warriors towards a 3–0 record against the Jazz. In Game 4, the Warriors opened up with 39 points in the first quarter as Curry and Thompson combined for 51 points to lead the Warriors to a complete sweep against the Jazz. Green also recorded a triple-double of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for the Warriors. In the conference finals round, the Warriors face the Spurs. In Game 1 of the series, the Warriors rallied back from 25 points down as they beat the Spurs, 113-111, to keep the postseason record unbeaten with 9-0. In Game 3, the Warriors defeated the Spurs, 120-108, to take a 3-0 series lead and improved to 11-0 for the postseason, becoming the third team in NBA History to start a postseason with 11-0 record, joining the 1988-89 Lakers and 2000-01 Lakers. The Warriors also swept the Spurs, thanks to Curry's 36 points, to reach their third NBA Finals in a row for the first time in franchise history. They also improve to 12-0 record in the postseason, the best record in NBA History. The Warriors won its fifth NBA Championship by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1 in the Finals; it was the first time in NBA history two teams have met for a third consecutive year. The Warriors are the first team ever to start 15–0 in the playoffs and their fifteen-game win streak to start the playoffs set the record for most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. Their 16–1 record is the best playoff record in NBA history, ousting the 2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers.Records
broke the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single game this season, with 13.NBA records
Individual
- Most three-pointers made in a single game: 13
- Most consecutive regular-season games with twenty or more points: 72
- Most consecutive games with a made three-pointer: 196
- Most consecutive regular-season games with a made three-pointer: 157
- Most consecutive regular-season games with a made three-pointer on the road: 117
- Most consecutive playoff games with a made three-pointer: 75
- First player to score 60 points in a game in under 30 minutes: Klay Thompson scored 60 points in 29 minutes against the Indiana Pacers on December 5, 2016, the first player to do this in the shot clock era
- First player to record a triple-double while scoring fewer than ten points: Draymond Green
- Most three-pointers made in a four-game playoff series: 21
Team
- Best record in NBA postseason: 16–1
- Best start in the postseason: 15–0
- Longest winning streak in the postseason: 15 games
- Most games without back-to-back losses in regular-season: 146. Previous record of 95 was held by the Utah Jazz.
- First team to have four players hit four three-pointers in a single game: Curry, Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all hit four three-pointers, first time in NBA history a team has done this.
- Most combined three-point attempts in a single game: 88
- Most games with a 40-point winning margin or higher in regular-season: 3
- Most players in the All-Star Game: Four, equalling the record shared by seven other teams in NBA history.
- Most points in a playoff game, first quarter: 45
- Playoff point-differential per game entering NBA Finals: +16.3
- Fewest turnovers in an NBA Finals game: 4
- Most three-pointers in an NBA Finals quarter: 9
- Most three-pointers in an NBA Finals half: 12
Franchise records
Individual
- Most steals in a game: 10
- Most consecutive games with a made three-pointer at home: 107
- Only Warriors players to score 60 points or more in a game: Klay Thompson scored 60 points against the Indiana Pacers on December 5, 2016. He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry and Joe Fulks as the only players in franchise history to score 60 or more points in a game.
Team
- Point-differential per game in regular-season: +11.63
- Most games with 30+ assists in a regular-season: 50
- Most assists in a game: 47
- Most assists per game in regular-season: 30.4
- Most assists in a regular-season: 2,491
- Most games in a row with 30+ assists: 10
- Most games in a season with 40+ assists: 3
- Most three-pointers attempted in a game: 48
- Fewest turnovers in a playoff game: 7
- Most assists in a half in the postseason: 23
- Playoff point-differential per game: +13.5
Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School / club team |
| 1 | 30 | Damian Jones | C | Vanderbilt |