The Golden State Warriors followed a near-flawless 16-1 run in the 2017 playoffs with a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to put a bow on their four-year rivalry at the greatest stage of the NBA season. Sharpshooter Klay Thompson is hoping to let that reign of terror continue with the addition of yet another All-Star in DeMarcus Cousins.

Now comes the daunting task of the pursuit of the three-peat — a challenge only completed by the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-02) and Chicago Bulls (1991-93, 1996-98) in the past 30 years.

The Warriors added Cousins only a day after the start of free agency, taking the NBA by storm by locking down a one-year, $5.3 million agreement for the taxpayer mid-level exception – a signing that once again makes the Warriors the team to beat.

“The front office, Bob [Myers] and them, keep having magic up their sleeve. I don’t know what they’ve been doing. But whatever they’ve been doing, don’t stop,” said Thompson, praising the Cousins acquisition and the drafting of Cincinnati junior swingman Jacob Evans, according to Mark Medina of the San Jose Mercury News. “We just re-tooled. It’s our championship to lose again this year. But we’ll come hungry again. It was an amazing offseason.”

While Cousins is a big man who has consistently ranked in the top five in usage rate the past four seasons, Golden State is hoping his transition will be rather smooth as he makes his way back midway through the regular season after suffering an Achilles tear in February.

This will be the third season in which Thompson and company have the pressure of being the defending champion during the past four seasons, and one that will ultimately prove the toughest as they chase a remarkable accomplishment in the eyes of NBA history.