Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr recalled memories of the 1975 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have become arguably the defining team of the last decade of NBA basketball, but it wasn’t so long ago that the franchise’s greatest triumph was winning the 1975 NBA Finals over the heavily favored Washington Bullets in a four-game sweep.
Those Warriors, led by Hall of Famers Rick Barry and Jamaal (Keith) Wilkes, went 1-3 against the Bullets that regular season but still managed to beat them when it mattered most. During the Warriors’ 127-123 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Cup action Friday night, the 1975 team reunited and was honored in front of the fans at the Chase Center.
Barry won the Finals MVP that season by averaging 29.5 points, four rebounds, and five assists while playing an average of 43 minutes per game in the sweep. Wilkes won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award with an average of 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
All living members of the 1975 team were on hand, and coach Al Attles, who passed away in 2024, was represented by his son. The 1975 team was actually the third Warriors team to win a championship, joining the 1947 and 1956 squads, but they didn’t reach the NBA Finals again until Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green led them back in 2015.
Childhood Memories
In the press conference after the game, Kerr was asked if he had any childhood memories of that 1975 Warriors team that served as the standard for the franchise for 40 years. Kerr was still very early in his life’s journey at that point, but he did have memories of seeing that Finals win and the aftermath in his youth.
Kerr also mentioned the relationship he built with the members of that team over the years and expressed gratitude that the surviving members were able to make it out to San Francisco to be honored in front of the home crowd.
“I do remember watching the game and seeing the celebration,” Kerr said. “I was nine years old, I think, at the time. So, not vivid memories, but I remember seeing the celebration when they sealed it in Washington. I got to know those guys a little bit over the years. It’s always fun to see them and welcome them back to the bay.”
The Warriors are back in action on Monday night against the Utah Jazz at home, with tip-off set for 10 p.m. EST.