Joe Lacob has gone from the wave of boos as the new owner of the Golden State Warriors to a man showered in hardware after a near-decade of success. The often-vocal owner had some key contributors in building a team recently named as the Sports Business Journal's “Team of the Decade.” Among them are former head coach Mark Jackson and former special advisor Jerry West.

Jackson was the coach that helped the Warriors turn a corner, as he took a young Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green and gave them the right leash to blossom into stars.

“This was an important hire and cannot be overlooked,” Lacob told Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. “Mark changed the culture of Warriors basketball. He demanded toughness. And he believed in Steph and Klay.”

West often operated in the background, but his voice was loud and respected among young front office executives.

“Jerry West — my idol as a young basketball fan,” said Lacob, recalling his hire. “Peter (Guber) and I cold-called him and I met him in LA at one of his favorite restaurants. And worked it. Jerry was so knowledgeable. And he agreed that he would have no operational role and that we would let the management team do their jobs. But he is a strong voice and always told me what he thought. His presence was huge for us, even though he sometimes ruffled feathers, which is OK. In that, Jerry and I are similar. He also loved Klay (Thompson) in the workouts (before the 2011 draft). His contributions were huge and it pained me to eventually part ways.”

Jackson and West are no longer with the organization, but they helped pave the way for a group of players that would soon become three-time NBA champions.