The Golden State dynasty was notably marked by the passage of Kevin Durant, who formed a formidable pair with Stephen Curry. However, a multiple champion believes that his former team would have beaten them without problem… It must be said that there was one of the most dominant players in history in his.
After the huge disappointment of the 2016 Finals, which saw them lose in the Finals to the Cavs after leading 3-1, the Warriors bounced back perfectly by signing Kevin Durant. The latter allowed the San Francisco franchise to immediately reclaim the league throne, with the winger forming an unplayable duo in the company of Stephen Curry. Result, a back-to-back and three consecutive Finals played between 2017 and 2019.
On paper and on the pitch, Steve Kerr’s squad was a real nightmare to play, especially in attack. But some think it could have been put down, starting with Robert Horry. The seven-time champion even had a concrete example to provide: the 2000-01 Lakers, of which he was a part. To support his theory, Big Shot Rob recalls that a certain Shaquille O’Neal was also a member of this team, and that the latter would have made a massacre against the Californian rival:
Robert Horry sees 2001 Lakers beat 2017 Warriors
We win..Shaq fouls everyone out https://t.co/aejqd7EcYD
— Robert Horry (@RKHorry) May 18, 2022
Tweetos : Between the 2001 Lakers and the 2017 Warriors, who would win?
Horry : We would have won easily… Shaq would have kicked everyone out for six fouls
It’s true that on a physical level, no Dubs player would have been able to slow down the Big Diesel. Remember that the latter had been monumental this season, coming out of a year 1999-00 where he had been MVP, champion and MVP of the Finals. His stats in the 2000-01 Finals? 33 points, almost 16 rebounds, 5 assists and more than 3 blocks per game… A real wild beast, and not sure that Golden State’s racket would have been able to meet the challenge it represented.
On top of that, his physical dominance could actually have posed a lot of foul problems for the Dubs, especially if they fell early in the game. Especially since the Shaqtus apart, there was also Kobe Bryant to defend! And if some will argue that Durant would have been just as unstoppable for the Purples and Golds, a surfer has advanced an interesting argument: there is a good chance that the pivot would have taken care of the Slim Reaper, so as to exhaust him.
KD played center on that 17 team. Lmao now explain to me how he is going to acore after getting banged all game long by Shaq. His body would be done in the offensive end. Draymond cant help because they going to have him chasing Kobe. Long 4 game seties for the Warriors
— david cedotal jr (@NOHitmen_11) May 18, 2022
KD played pivot in this team. Explain to me how he would have been able to score after being physically abused the whole game by Shaq. He would have been burned in attack. Draymond couldn’t have helped because he would be on a mission to Kobe. It would have been a very long 4-game series for the Warriors.
Robert Horry is by no means objective on this subject, but the fact is that the Shaq would have posed a huge problem for the Warriors. From there to automatically win the Lakers? That is a question to which we will never have an answer.
