Who Won the NBA 2022 Championship and How Did They Achieve Victory?
Let me take you back to that incredible night of June 16, 2022, when the Golden State Warriors secured their fourth NBA championship in eight years, defeating the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game 6 of the Finals. I remember watching that game with a mix of professional analysis and pure basketball fandom, something I've developed over years covering this sport. The Warriors didn't just win another championship—they completed one of the most remarkable rebuilds in modern sports history, returning to the summit after two seasons spent in the wilderness.
What struck me most about their victory was how it defied conventional championship formulas. Most title teams follow a predictable trajectory: acquire stars, build chemistry, peak, then gradually decline. The Warriors somehow managed to skip the decline phase entirely, despite losing Kevin Durant to free agency and seeing Klay Thompson miss two full seasons with devastating injuries. Their championship was built on three pillars that I believe will be studied for years: organizational continuity, strategic innovation, and what I like to call "competitive elasticity"—the ability to adapt their winning formula to new circumstances and personnel.
The core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson provided the foundation, but the supporting cast made this championship particularly special. Jordan Poole's emergence as a legitimate scoring threat gave them a new dimension, while Andrew Wiggins finally delivered on his potential at both ends of the court. What impressed me was how Steve Kerr managed to integrate these new pieces while maintaining the Warriors' signature motion offense and switching defense. I've seen many teams try to replicate the Warriors' system, but they always miss the intangible elements—the trust, the communication, the almost telepathic understanding between players who've grown together.
Looking at their playoff run, the numbers tell a compelling story. Curry averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in the Finals, finally earning his first Finals MVP after years of questions about his playoff performances. But what the stats don't show is how the Warriors systematically dismantled the Celtics' defense. Boston had been phenomenal defensively throughout the playoffs, but Golden State exposed their weaknesses with surgical precision. The Celtics' switching defense, so effective against other teams, played right into the Warriors' hands because nobody exploits mismatches better than Curry and his teammates.
The reference to Winston and Heading's performance against Converge resonates deeply with what I observed in the Warriors' championship run. Even when individual players struggled—and they did have off nights—the collective toughness and system prevailed. I recall Game 5 particularly, where Thompson shot poorly but Poole stepped up with critical baskets. That depth and resilience reminds me of what makes championship teams special: it's not about having perfect players, but about having players who perfectly complement each other, even in their imperfections.
What many analysts underestimated was the Warriors' defensive versatility. Green anchored the defense, but Wiggins' ability to guard multiple positions proved crucial against Boston's versatile wings. The Celtics shot just 34% from three-point range in the series, well below their regular season average, because the Warriors consistently contested shots without fouling—a delicate balance few teams master. Having studied championship teams for over a decade, I can tell you that defense truly wins titles, and the Warriors held opponents under 100 points in 9 of their 16 playoff wins.
The financial aspect of their victory can't be ignored either. The Warriors' payroll and luxury tax bill totaled nearly $346 million, the highest in NBA history. While critics might dismiss their success as simply buying a championship, I see it differently. Their spending reflected strategic investment in player development and retention—drafting wisely, developing talent internally, and making calculated decisions about which veterans to keep. The $109 million luxury tax bill wasn't reckless spending; it was the price of maintaining excellence in a system designed for sustained success.
Their offensive system deserves particular attention. The Warriors averaged 111.0 points per game in the playoffs while maintaining a 56.5% true shooting percentage. But beyond the numbers, what makes their offense special is the constant movement and decision-making. Unlike isolation-heavy teams, the Warriors create advantages through cutting, screening, and passing—what analytics experts call "advantage basketball." Having spoken with several coaches who've tried to implement similar systems, I can confirm how difficult it is to replicate the Warriors' level of execution without their specific personnel and institutional knowledge.
The emotional component of this championship shouldn't be underestimated either. Thompson's return from two catastrophic injuries provided a narrative thread that elevated the entire season. When he scored 32 points in Game 5 against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals, I remember thinking this was more than just a basketball story—it was about resilience and redemption. These human elements often get lost in analytical discussions, but they're crucial to understanding what drives championship teams through difficult moments.
Looking back, the 2022 Warriors championship represents what I consider the perfect blend of established excellence and adaptive innovation. They maintained their core identity while evolving to meet new challenges—something few championship teams manage successfully. The Celtics were younger, more athletic, and had dominated the Eastern Conference playoffs, but the Warriors' experience and strategic sophistication ultimately prevailed. In my assessment, this championship solidifies the Warriors' system as the most influential in modern basketball, comparable to the Spurs' dynasty in its ability to sustain excellence across different roster iterations.
The legacy of this championship extends beyond just another banner in Chase Center. It demonstrates that in an era of player movement and constant change, organizational stability and cultural continuity still matter. The Warriors proved that with the right leadership, development system, and core values, teams can navigate transitions without bottoming out. As someone who's followed this organization since the "We Believe" era, I find their journey particularly satisfying—not just because of the championships, but because of how they've achieved them: with intelligence, style, and a commitment to their identity that has transformed how basketball is played and teams are built.