The Golden State Warriors have joined elite company after qualifying for their sixth NBA Finals in the past eight seasons.
The Warriors, who missed the playoffs altogether in 2019-20 and 2020-21, bounced back with a 53-29 season before an emphatic Western Conference Finals 4-1 series victory over the Dallas Mavericks to seal their spot in the Finals.
Golden State won Game 5 on Thursday 120-110 over the Mavs after jumping to a 69-52 half-time lead and never looking back.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said: “For our team, our guys, especially the core group, to be part of that six times in eight years, I don’t even know what to say.
“It just takes an enormous amount of skill and determination and work.”
The Warriors were NBA champions in 2015, 2017 and 2018, having also won the Conference in 2016, 2019 and now 2022.
Golden State join Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, Magic Johnson’s Lakers in the 1980s and Bill Russell’s Celtics in the 1950s and 1960s to make it to the NBA Finals at least six times over an eight-year span.
Klay Thompson top scored with 32 points, shooting eight-of-16 from beyond the arc, marking his return to the top of his game after years out injured.
“It’s hard to put into words really,” Thompson said.
“This time last year, I was just starting to jog again and get up and down the court.
“Now to be feeling like myself, feeling explosive, feeling sure in my movements, I’m just grateful.”
Stephen Curry only managed 15 points, shooting two three-pointers, while Kevon Looney pulled down 18 rebounds with his 10 points and four assists.
For the Mavs, Luka Doncic starred again with 28 points but shot 10-of-28 from the field, with nine rebounds and six assists. Spencer Dinwiddie added 26 points from 32 minutes off the bench.
The Warriors will play either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, with Game 6 of their series, led by the Celtics 3-2, on Friday.
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