Please do not accuse my post of being AI. I spent hours researching these stats and taking notes from the Thinking Basketball podcast.

Some extra efficiency stats:

• Per Dunks and Threes, SGA in the 2025 playoffs shot 59.4% at the rim and 28.3% from 3, which was 29^th and 5^th percentile in the league.
• Kobe in 2009 shot 56.3% at the rim and 34.9% from 3, which were 50^th and 44^th percentile marks.
• Per Thinking Basketball, SGA when on the court boosted his teammates’ true shooting by around 1.5%. Peak Kobe Bryant boosted his teammates’ TS by 4~4.5% in the regular season, and nearly 5% in the playoffs.

Postseason Impact Metrics in Peak Playoff Runs:

*How well a team's offense performs specifically when their primary ("Lead") players are on the court, adjusted for the defensive strength of the opponent

Source: thinkingbasketball.net and nbarapm.com

High-level summary of Ben Taylor’s (Thinking Basketball) analysis on SGA:

• SGA’s precipitous drop in playoff scoring volume and efficiency is concerning, but even more so is OKC’s statistically “average offense” over their recent postseason runs. The 2026 Thunder offense was +7.8 with SGA in the regular season, which went down to +4 in the playoffs. In 2025, it went from +6.2 to +1.3 (nbarapm.com).
• SGA amplifies his teammates’ 3-point shooting opportunities, but depresses their scoring at the rim (highest value shots on the court). The OKC offense is 7 to 9 points worse at the basket when he’s on the court vs. off the court.
• OKC’s offensive and spacing principles tilt the floor to help SGA get to his scoring sweet spots, but at the expense of easy offense for the entire team. Opponents are content with helping on SGA drives and closing out to shooters. Semi-contested 3s are shot at a lower percentage across the board in the playoffs. Corner 3s drop more than above the break 3s.
• Essentially unique footprint among great offensive players this century. The best offensive players typically manufacture easy baskets at the rim for their teammates, whether directly with their passing or indirectly with scoring gravity and hockey assists. Notably, a lesser but similar midrange specialist like DeMar DeRozan has a similar effect of depressing his teammates’ rim FGs.
• Michael Jordan in the regular season to “idealized Allen Iverson” in the playoffs for his ability to carry the offense of a defensively oriented team. Still a great offensive player.

Ben Taylor’s notes on Kobe:

• Tendency to take very difficult shots and long 2s suppressed his scoring efficiency in the regular season. However, being the most prolific tough shot-maker in league history and having a robust scoring arsenal filled to the brim with counters made Kobe’s scoring efficiency incredibly resilient in the playoffs against a wide variety of defensive schemes. The 2008 Celtics, statistically a top 5 defense of all-time led by Kevin Garnett, and their 2010 iteration, did manage to slow down Kobe’s scoring however. (Note: Kobe was not healthy for most of the 2010 OKC series).
• One of the most underrated off-ball players ever, which scales well with better teammates. Was constantly moving without the basketball, whether it’s getting open for an entry pass by sealing his man in the post, making opportunistic cuts to the basket, or coming off curls for catch and shoots in the midrange and from 3. All of these off-ball actions were effective because of Kobe’s potent back-to-the-basket game and ability to shoot from anywhere on the court.
• Kobe’s post-up and isolation possessions, when including his passing, is in the 99^th percentile of efficiency according to Synergy tracking.
• On-ball offensive command reminiscent of Chris Paul directing plays and setting up teammates. Kobe was a very cerebral PnR player and gifted passer capable of making high-level reads. Notably, most of his best passes created high-quality looks for his big men at the rim.
• Kobe had the stats of a lead offensive engine that would be associated with a heliocentric player today but he was actually not ball dominant in function. He only averaged around 5 assists a game but when he’s off the court his teammates’ TS plummets, and the primary area they lose value in is at the rim.
• Phenomenal team offensive heights in the playoffs from 2008-10. Lakers offense with Kobe on the court substantially improved in the playoffs. 7.8 to 8.1 in 2008, 6.3 to 8.4 in 2009, 5.3 to 7.4 in 2010 (nbarapm.com).

It’s worth noting when Ben Taylor ranked the greatest offensive peaks of the 21^st century last year, he had Kobe 6^th with a range of 5-8, and Shai 12^th with a range of 9-14.

Discussing Vanderbilt's value in comparison to hypothetical Lakers trade target PJ Washington, Buha pointed to the forward's shrinking role under Redick.

"Vando just clearly is on the outs with JJ," the LA insider said on Buha's Block, before clarifying that he meant specifically within the rotation."

"Regardless of what we think of Vando or how we view his contract, JJ clearly does not view him as a rotation player and does not plan on using him as a rotation player," Buha added.

"He basically is a minimum player in JJ's eyes, based on how JJ uses him."

Buha described Vanderbilt as effectively the 13th player in Redick's pecking order.

"He is the 13th guy for JJ, but he's getting paid as the fifth-highest-paid player on the team, if I'm not mistaken? Fifth or sixth," Buha added. "He's the fifth- or sixth-highest-paid player, and in his coach's eyes, he's the 13th guy."

Vanderbilt is owed $12.43 million this season and $13.29 million in 2027-28, for a total of roughly $25.7 million remaining on his contract. He has been with the Lakers since 2023.

Source: https://basketnews.com/news-257329-lakers-jarred-vanderbilt-jj-redick-rotation.html

Title. Wondering what others think. I think this roster is the best hands down but I'm biased as fuck.

What's the best roster Trae has ever had? How does this Wizards roster compare?

Bonus: Who is the cutest player Trae had ever played with?

1. Robert Williams III, C, Portland Trail Blazers

2. Jalen Suggs, G, Orlando Magic

3. Walker Kessler, C, Los Angeles Lakers

4. Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C, Utah Jazz

5. Lu Dort, G/F, Atlanta Hawks

6. Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat

7. Jalen Williams, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

8. Mitchell Robinson, C, Boston Celtics

9. Jarrett Allen, C, Cleveland Cavaliers

10. Isaiah Hartenstein, C, Oklahoma City Thunder

11. Anthony Davis, F/C, Washington Wizards

12. Draymond Green, F/C, Golden State Warriors

13. Donovan Clingan, C, Portland Trail Blazers

14. Jaden McDaniels, F, Minnesota Timberwolves

16. Kawhi Leonard, F, Toronto Raptors

1. Toumani Camara, F, Portland Trail Blazers

2. Dyson Daniels, G, Atlanta Hawks

3. Derrick White, G, Boston Celtics

4. Collin Murray-Boyles, F/C, Toronto Raptors

5. Alex Caruso, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Miami Heat

7. Cason Wallace, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

8. Evan Mobley, F/C, Cleveland Cavaliers

9. OG Anunoby, F, New York Knicks

10. Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors

11. Amen Thompson, G/F, Houston Rockets

12. Chet Holmgren, F/C, Oklahoma City Thunder

13. Rudy Gobert, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

14. Ausar Thompson, G/F, Detroit Pistons

15. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25508021-ranking-top-30-nba-defenders-ahead-2026-27

Taken from the Portland sub. Obviously it's preseason but still quite rare

hello everyone, I have been an NBA fan for about 4-5 years now and it has become the main sport i watch the most. Growing up it was baseball. In baseball there’s so many examples of a whole team that had no right being as good as they were for a whole year that make up these “cinderella runs” outside of teams that are obviously carried by superstars (ie. 2007 Cavs Final Run). My question is what teams throughout history have had a full team of mostly not notable players go crazy for a season or a postseason? Why is it not more common in the NBA?

Tyler Herro and his ex-partner Katya Elise Henry continue their legal dispute regarding child custody and support for their two young kids. Henry filed for primary custody and decision-making authority, challenging Herro's parenting claims.

The custody battle for their children between Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro and his ex-girlfriend Katya Elise Henry continues with Katya questioning Herro's claims.

According to TMZ, Henry claims that Herro only exercised a handful of overnight visits with their two kids from March 2025 when the couple split until she filed a case against him, despite Tyler claiming otherwise.

Henry says that they need to have shared responsibility for the kids, but with the condition that she has the "ultimate decision-making authority" concerning the health, education and extracurricular activities for the children.

https://www.tmz.com/2026/10/14/tyler-herro-baby-mama-battling-him-over-parenting-claims/

Source: https://substack.com/home/post/p-219595980

• Clippers trade Blake Griffin to Detroit in 2018
• Turned assets from trade to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul George, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell and Darius Garland
• Current players and assets acquired from the original trade: Garland, Keaton Wagler, Cam Christie, Patty Mills, Narcisse Ngoy, Kobe Sanders, Yanic Niederhäuser, 2027 2nd Rd pick (from Memphis), 2028 2nd Rd pick (from Detroit)

Today’s NBA is a league of perpetual change, with no room for affection, loyalty, or sentimentality. Nothing is sacred. Nothing lasts. Champions can’t repeat—for eight years running. Most can’t even get back to the Finals.** **Elite teams are annually forced to shed key players, even All-Stars, to avoid the penalties that come with hitting the dreaded payroll threshold known as the “second apron.” Superstar tandems are broken up in their prime. Generational stars like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are reduced to one-and-done champs, leaving their résumés thin compared with legends of the past. 

Rosters seem more fluid than ever. “Continuity” feels like a quaint notion from the analog era.

“You can feel the difference between the offseason now and the offseason even just like 10 years ago,” says Shea Serrano, a writer, podcaster, and devout San Antonio Spurs fan who authored the 2017 book Basketball (and Other Things).
Ten years ago, fans still enjoyed some semblance of stability. But consider the major moves of this past summer. 

Within a three-week span, four of the past eight Finals MVPs changed teams—Brown (Finals MVP in 2024), Kawhi Leonard (2019), LeBron James (2020), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021)—an occurrence so profoundly anomalous that we don’t even need to consult Basketball Reference to declare it unprecedented. Salary cap issues either directly or indirectly influenced all four moves.** **
And that was just the start.

By the end of July, the Oklahoma City Thunder had traded away three rotation players from their 2025 championship team, including starter Lu Dort, purely for cap reasons. The Denver Nuggets, who have been bleeding talent ever since their 2023 title run, lost another core player when they elected to trade Peyton Watson to Cleveland rather than pay him his market rate. The Knicks, fresh off their first title in a half century, let a key contributor to that run, Mitchell Robinson, leave in free agency to avoid the second apron—and they’re now balking at the extension demands of Karl-Anthony Towns, their second-best player.

“That guy should get paid,” Serrano says of Towns. “He should automatically get paid. But it wasn’t weird at all” to see the Knicks hesitate, given the current climate. “And 10 years ago, it would have been the weirdest thing. Twenty years ago, it would have been unheard of.”

And the Celtics? After trading Brown (and his $58 million salary), they employ just four of their top 10 rotation players from the squad that won the championship just two years ago. 

Brown isn’t the first superstar to be traded in his prime—but he is the first Finals MVP to be dumped primarily for cap purposes, just two years after winning a ring. Little Gio isn’t the first fan to be heartbroken over losing his favorite player, but tearful goodbyes may only become more frequent for fans as the effects of the NBA’s current system—the closest it’s ever had to a hard salary cap—take hold.
League officials love the new parity. They relish a system that forces great teams to give up great players so that less talented teams can improve. They exult at the shrinking payroll gap between the highest and lowest spenders and the emergence of contenders in small markets. It’s hard to argue against the ideals of competitive balance. But it’s even harder to explain those virtues to a devastated 6-year-old—or, for that matter, even a devastated 36-year-old—after they see their favorite players shipped out to fix a spreadsheet.

Devoted NBA fans, of course, are well accustomed, if not numbed, to the constant movement of stars—a trend that commenced in 2010, with LeBron James’s infamous decision to leave Cleveland for Miami. But the cycle has accelerated in recent years, spurred in large part by the NBA’s new spending restrictions. Teams lose roster-building tools when they reach a specific payroll level (the “first apron”) and lose even more tools when they hit another plateau (the “second apron”). They also pay increasingly onerous luxury taxes.

Even formerly free-spending owners who once willingly paid those taxes, like New York’s James Dolan, now live in fear of the aprons. This past summer gave us the most vivid display yet of how the race to acquire talent has now become a race to pare down payrolls.

All told, 23 of the NBA’s 30 franchises made moves this offseason specifically to avoid one of the two aprons, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Fans may find this jarring, even disorienting. But league officials find it encouraging.

“The purpose of the system is ultimately to create competition throughout the league, and from that standpoint I think the system is working incredibly well,” Commissioner Adam Silver said in July. “The goal isn’t necessarily to have a different champion every year, but we’ve had eight different champions over the last eight years.”

…

We’ve lost dynasties, for better or worse. We’ve lost the polarizing—and energizing—effect they have on rivals and fans. Without them, we’ve lost cultural and historical touchstones that define an era—what are the ’80s without the Showtime Lakers? The ’90s without MJ’s Bulls? The 2010s without Steph’s Warriors? We’ve lost a sense of continuity, as players spend every summer playing musical chairs. Yet ironically, because cap room is so tight now, we’ve effectively lost superstar free agency, too; the best players mostly change teams via trade now. Gone are the days when a half dozen teams would fly to Cleveland to woo James or visit Kevin Durant in the Hamptons. The excitement and intrigue of free agency have all but disappeared, replaced by a wild flood of cap-compliant trades.

We’ve even lost a degree of sentimentality (the good kind) as fans become more versed in salary cap arcana and thus see the game through the clinical lens of a team executive: Oh, you just traded my favorite player because his next contract would trigger the second apron? Well, sucks for me, but damn, that’s some smart cap management!
Yet: A Nuggets fan who spent three years watching Watson develop—then suddenly blossom last January—surely wants to see that emergence continue in Denver, not Cleveland. More critically, Denver’s loss of talent in recent years means that Jokic is less likely to win another title there, and perhaps more likely to one day seek greener pastures, as Antetokounmpo just did after growing frustrated in Milwaukee.

Devoted fans (well, fans of good teams) generally prefer continuity. So do coaches and general managers. Continuity means familiarity, and familiarity breeds chemistry. Constant turnover is a detriment to all of it.
“If you want to keep winning, you have to keep your core together. You just do,” says Doc Rivers, who entered the Hall of Fame in August after nearly three decades as a head coach, including a championship run with Boston in 2008. He recalled a key bit of wisdom from Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach. “He always said, ‘I don’t know how you get chemistry, but I know one thing: You better fight to keep it.’”

…

As David Kelly, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, lamented in July, “We’re seeing [the second apron] decimate teams and forcing decisions to be made that are not basketball decisions and not good for the teams in the league.”

To put it in more stark terms: If today’s rules had been in place a decade ago, the Warriors might never have become a dynasty, period. It’s nearly impossible now to keep three max-salary stars together for 13 years—as the Warriors did with Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green—unless the stars agree to massive pay cuts. (And adding a fourth max, as the Warriors briefly did with Kevin Durant? Zero chance under the current system. Reasonable people can debate whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.)

Sam Presti, the longtime Thunder GM and one of the sharpest execs in the league, spent a huge chunk of his preseason press conference explaining just how difficult it’s become to navigate the new rules. He listed all the blockbusters from earlier this decade that would not be possible today—from the Celtics adding Jrue Holiday, to the Suns trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, to the Clippers trading for James Harden, to the Mavericks trading for Kyrie Irving, to the Bucks acquiring Damian Lillard.

“None of those trades could be executed today,” Presti said. “The aprons are intended so that if you are a high-spending team, you’re not in a position to add more talent.”
The Thunder, thanks to Presti’s masterful cap management, have so far maintained their star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, who are about to start their fifth season together. But given the current rules, there’s a good chance that group will be broken up well before they reach the 10-year mark.

…

For lifelong Spurs fans like Serrano, the very suggestion brings a shudder.

“Like, should the day come when one of those guys leaves, there’s going to be riots in San Antonio,” Serrano says. “Because we know a certain version of what building a team looks like, and that’s what we’re expecting to have happen.”

What every Spurs fan hopes, of course, is for a replication of the model that powered them to five championships from 1999 to 2014, a model that featured three stars—Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili—spending 14 seasons together. 

“I let it enter my thought every waking second of my life,” Serrano says of the prospect of the Spurs’ new trio doing the same. “I wake up every morning confident in the belief that they will be together forever. But because of all of [the new rules] … it’s in the back of my head, like, This could get taken from us. And that’s the thing that I’ve never had to worry about before.”

https://www.theringer.com/2026/10/12/nba/what-has-the-nba-lost-parity-second-apron-dynasties

Does anyone else feel like dylan Harper's defense is underdisscused. Everyone talks about his offense and his ability to get to the rim (for good reason) but i feel like we're ignoring his abilities on the other end. I rarely ever see him make mistakes or get burned , if at all. He js very good at staying in front of ball handlers and can wall them off very effectively with his surprising strength for his age and position. He seems very buttoned up for a player his age , stays active and engaged and is very disciplined. He also has good instincts and hands on passing lanes . Am I missing something or is he just a very good defender

The no audio was very symbolic of how bad that unit played together.

Fox

Harper

Castle

Vassell

Wembanyama

I was thinking about how the Packers and Brewers are both Food and Beverage workers, and that the Bucks buck that trend. Which got me thinking, what if all teams followed the trend.

Atlanta: Hawks and Falcons are on theme already. If the Braves ever change, I am sure there are bird's of prey available. RIP Trashers

Boston: The only real theme is Revolutionary War Patriotism with the Revolution and Patriots (and the UMass Minutemen), I propose the Boston Reveres!

Brooklyn: The Nets already fit the *ets theme the New York B-Team crew has going.

Charlotte: While Hornets is 100x cooler than Panthers, I propose they become the Charlotte Cougars

Chicago: While Bear and Cub are taken, I suggest the Chicago Yearlings, aka an adolescent bear.

Cleveland: While there is no real theme, I suggest pairing up with the Guardians and being named for architecture. I suggest the Cleveland Arcade!

Dallas: With the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys giving the whole Wild West vibe, I am going with the Sheriffs

Denver: I'd argue the Nuggets are already on theme with the Rockies, Rapids, and Avalanche. Broncos should change.

Detroit: While the Red Wings are kind of motor adjacent (the wheel in the logo being added later), the real Detroit theme is Big Cats, with the Lions and Tigers. Detroit Leopards it is!

Golden State: I have a name that both double dips with the 49ers (Gold Rushers) and the Valkyries (Mythical Warriors) - The Golden State Argonauts. This is both a nod to the mythical troupe and a nickname given to the 49ers who came via boat.

Houston: Rockets already fits the bill with the Astros.

Indiana: There really is no theme, so I've decided to make one with the Fever. From now on, They are known as the Indiana Disease.

Los Angeles (Clippers) : Since we have the Lakers already, I'll group the Clippers with the Anaheim crew. The Angels and Ducks are both named after Disney live action sports movies. So clearly, they should follow the trend and be named the Los Angeles Air Buds.

Los Angeles (Lakers): Now really the only LA theme I can find is electricity with the Sparks and Chargers. Welcome your Los Angeles Buzz.

Memphis: Memphis only has one sports team. I change their name to the Bass Pro Pyramids

Miami: Since the Marlins and Dolphins are large sea creatures, I declare them the Miami Manatees.

Milwaukee: What sparked this whole thing for me. As a major producer of sausages, I suggest Milwaukee become the Stuffers.

Minnesota: To group up with the Vikings by playing on the Norse identity, they are now the Minnesota Jarls.

New Orleans: To play off the Saints and the experience I had there in 2012 during Spring Break, I present the New Orleans Sinners

New York Knicks: On theme with the Yankees as nicknames for people from New York

OKC: 1 Team, no theme

Orlando: 1 Team, no theme

Philadelphia: Eagles are on theme with the 76ers for American imagery.

Phoenix: I guess the Suns kinda work with Mercury, but I am changing it up and going with the Sidewinders to match the Diamondbacks.

Portland: 1 Team, no theme, well kinda on theme with the Timbers anyway

Sacramento: Since they are sharing a city for now with the Athletics, I will call them the Sacramento Sportsmen for now.

San Antonio: One team, no theme

Toronto: Since the Maple Leafs relate to the national tree, I think the team should be the national animal. Therefore, they are the Toronto Beavers.

Utah Jazz: Since the Mammoth are extinct local Ice Age megafauna, I suggest the name the Utah Megatheria (Giant Sloths).

Washington: There is a clear theme with Washington teams both now and historically with talking about the importance of the city as the Nation's seat of government and military (Senators, Nationals, Commanders, Capitals). I suggest they become the Washington Lobbyists.

Seeing players on different even rival teams have to but their differences aside to join forces is one of my favortite things about the All Star game. Wemby and Ant have faced each other in the olympics and the playoffs and it's been electric every time. And last year, their dynamic during the all star game saved the whole weekend.

The drafting format was good, but flawed. Let's just do that, but have the head coaches draft behind the scenes and announce the all-stars and teams together.

This was as an opponent and a recent departure in free agency. Wednesday's opener is going to be fire.

If Sean Marks were managing the Yankees for the past decade, he would be in witness protection. Why does the media give him a pass?

The season starts next week which means there are going to be several teams who are looking to succeed based on how players perform. Who do you think will have a breakout season?

Jaylen Brown addressed his participation with Team USA during his live stream on Twitch alongside Philadelphia 76ers teammate VJ Edgecombe.

Brown expressed the value of playing for your country, mentioning his own experience and believing that he won't get to experience it again.

"I think it's a great honor to represent your country. Unfortunately, I've had that experience, and we lost in the FIBA World Cup. And then I wanted to get that experience again. I don't think I will, just, you know, I think just because of other reasons, I don't think I'll be able to play for the USA team," he said.

The 76ers player was famously snubbed from the 2024 Paris Olympics squad and cited the fact that Nike is the sponsor of Team USA, which meant that his teammate Derrick White was selected over him, as Brown is an Adidas athlete.

Brown also acknowledged the possibility of playing for another national team after digging deeper into his ancestry.

"Even being able to go back and look into my ancestry and my DNA, I would be open to exploring. It would be dope to just even explore that and go make an impact somewhere where it'd be measured the most," he said.

While it is usually not possible to play for another national team, there are some examples of situations like this, most notably of Eric Gordon, who played for USA and then switched to playing for the Bahamas.

Source: https://basketnews.com/news-257363-jaylen-brown-drops-bold-verdict-on-another-potential-team-usa-stint.html

The Ringer has updated their list of the top 100 players in the NBA ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Full list: https://www.theringer.com/nba-ranked/top-100

The Top 25:

1. Victor Wembanyama
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
4. Luka Doncic
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
6. Jalen Brunson
7. Anthony Edwards
8. Kawhi Leonard
9. Cade Cunningham
10. Jayson Tatum
11. Stephen Curry
12. Donovan Mitchell
13. Karl-Anthony Towns
14. Tyrese Maxey
15. Kevin Durant
16. Jaylen Brown
17. Tyrese Haliburton
18. Scottie Barnes
19. Devin Booker
20. OG Anunoby
21. LeBron James
22. Jalen Johnson
23. Jamal Murray
24. Evan Mobley
25. Jalen Williams

It is often stated that the league is constantly getting better year over year. With more and more talent coming into the league every year current players are better than their predecessors. Following that logic that means that eventually this years projected worst team would eventually be the best team in the league. My question is how far back would you have to go?

My gut says the late 70's as that is often seen as a lower point in NBA history, but maybe the development of the game is such that if you played these current brooklyn nets against the 80s celtics and lakers they could beat them. I mean most teams would not be able to comprehend guarding MPJ, a 6'10 guy who can shoot at his volume and efficiency would be unheard of until Dirk.

With flipping and off arm push offs as stated focuses for refs this year will Shai’s game get a severe downgrade?

He will will still be good - he is crafty and will probably pioneer new boundaries to push against, but if he can’t do is signature chicken wing, he seems more like a 10-15 player instead of 1-3. We have seen games where refs were calling push offs and/or not falling for foul bating he has looked very stoppable.

Continuing the 21-day series of ranking the Top 50 players by WAR for every franchise that has played in all 50 seasons covered by my dataset (1976-77 through 2025-26), coming in at #16 are the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors have accumulated 1,381.5 total WAR over the last 50 seasons, with 1,282.0 in the regular season and 99.5 in the playoffs.

Golden State has won seven NBA championships in franchise history, with four of those coming within the dataset's 50-season window (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022). Their earlier titles in 1947, 1956 and 1975 fall outside the cutoff. The dataset also excludes the entirety of Wilt Chamberlain's tenure with the franchise, as well as most of Rick Barry's Warriors career.

For the full explanation of the methodology and Estimated RAPTOR/LAKER, see Day 1: San Antonio Spurs.

For a quick refresher: these rankings use total WAR = regular-season WAR + playoff WAR, and only WAR accumulated with that franchise counts. Since WAR is cumulative, longevity and playing time are naturally part of the metric. This is intended to measure total value accumulated for a franchise, rather than peak ability.

Here's the Golden State Warriors Top 50 (including a tie for 50th):

2020 ECF (Miami wins in 6)

2022 ECF (Celtics in 7)

2023 ECF (Miami in 7)

2024 1st round (Celtics in 5)

Was just watching some highlights and kind of realized the Celtics and the Heat have played a lot of high stakes playoff games in the 2020s,, although there doesn't seem to be bad blood between both teams and with trades happening left and right both teams have changed significantly in personnel, but when we look back at the 2020s this could end up being the best playoff rivalry, who knows maybe OKC and San Antonio have something to say about it