The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 103-90 on Thursday night, sealing the deal on their fourth NBA Finals trophy in the last eight seasons. It was also their first championship in the post-Kevin Durant era, a notable achievement that was not lost on the likes of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green when asked about it.

Here's Curry's reaction to doing it without his former teammate, per Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill:

“For sure. You bookend it,” Curry told Yahoo Sports when asked if he wanted to do it without his former teammate. “That’s part of it. But nobody in October thought we’d be here. Now we are. With this group. Not compared to any group before it, so it’s pretty dope.”

Curry kept saying that the Warriors' title “hits different.” He admitted that winning one without Durant was “part of it.” Many critics wondered if Curry and the Dubs would ever be able to get back to the NBA Finals stage after the departure of Durant.

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Some wondered if the Warriors could make it period, with the Western Conference loaded with talent. But “we are,” as Curry said. Green also had an interesting take on winning one without Durant:

“Of course,” Green told Yahoo Sports. “There’s always things you want to prove. Ultimately, when Kevin came here, the main person who has to sign off on that is Steph. So to open your door, to open your arms and accept someone with open arms, and it goes great and it’s short-lived, it’s a slap in the face.”

Green clarified that it was more of a harsh reality than slap in the face that Durant didn't want to be a part of the Dubs until the wheels fell off. He said that the “competitor in you is going to want to prove you wrong.”

Green also took note of this post on Instagram:

Warriors, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Durant's absence certainly wasn't the primary motivator in these NBA Finals for the Dubs. However, it certainly was on the minds of Curry and Green.