In the aftermath of the Golden State Warriors' second-straight NBA championship win, former forward David West teased a cryptic message that there was a lot going on behind the scenes in the Warriors' title runs the previous years.
The now-retired two-time NBA champion finally explained to Marc Spears of The Undefeated what that cryptic message was all about.
“There’s stuff with every team that stays off the radar. And that was my point. Like, we’re no different. But all you heard was like, ‘Well, how easy was this year?’ And, ‘what does it feel like not having had to deal with, basically?’ That wasn’t the year that we had. And that’s all that was.”
The 15-year veteran certainly knows the different kinds of drama and emotions that happen in an NBA locker, after spending most of his career on winning and contending teams like the New Orleans Hornets, the Indiana Pacers, and the San Antonio Spurs before going on the ultimate ring chase in Golden State.
But West explained further in the interview that it wasn't really all smooth-sailing for the seemingly unbeatable Warriors.
“We experienced different things throughout the year that every other team goes through. Emotions, ups and downs, highs and the lows. You go through the wear and tear, the drag of the season just like everybody else. Just because you’re the top team, or you’re a team that’s outperforming people, doesn’t mean you’re immune from those things.”
There seemed to be a lot of heated debates and exchanges during the Dubs' title defense last season, as alluded by West. There are stories about head coach Steve Kerr and forward Draymond Green going at it in the locker at times.
Almost everyone on the Warriors acknowledged that defending the championship last season, and winning their third in four years, was the hardest run they had. It was apparent in the Western Conference Finals after they were taken to the brink by the Houston Rockets, who had taken a 3-2 series lead over the Warriors before the defending champs somehow pulled a rabbit out of the hat.
West also reminded everyone not to take for granted the grind that the Warriors go through despite the plethora of talent on their roster. Winning a championship is still very tough, no matter how elite the players are.
“So, don’t demean it because this team has won two in a row. Don’t demean it because the collection of talent is elite. It’s still hard.”
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