The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ rivalry back in the 2014-17s era was magical in the NBA. In 2016, the Cavs got the better of the Warriors as they beat them 4-3 in the NBA Finals. LeBron James got the better of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green of the Warriors in 2016. However, the Warriors soon signed iconic star Kevin Durant, which left coach Ty Lue worried.
This blockbuster signing changed the game for the Warriors as well as the Cavs. KD was already regarded as one of the league’s top players at that point. Regarding this signing, the Cavs’ former Head Coach Ty Lue shared an exciting story regarding how it was ‘over’ for his side regarding their rivalry with the Warriors.
It’s over. Like, I mean, we thought we figured y’all out, you know what I’m saying?… But when y’all got KD, it just made it— I mean, come on. You blitz Steph, and now you got Klay and KD on the weak side. You know, you’re short rolling, you got Iguodala for the lob, and you got Klay and KD in the corners. Like, it just became too hard. Like, it just—it was too hard to, like I said, match up offensively.”
Ty Lue on The Draymond Green Show
Durant finished fifth in the MVP race and was named to the All-Star and All-NBA Team teams in his final season with OKC, averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. The addition of that caliber of talent to the Dubs’ already formidable nucleus of Green, Klay Thompson, and Curry was revolutionary in every way.
Dray: “We go sign KD. What was your reaction to that?”
Ty Lue: “It’s over.”@Money23Green and Ty Lue break down why guarding the KD-era Warriors was a nightmare pic.twitter.com/3HNLuvGIjt
— The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis (@DraymondShow) January 2, 2025
The 6’11” forward was able to display a number of his skills after joining Golden State, particularly on defense. The team was practically impregnable after he joined the Warriors. Over the following three seasons, they would win two championships, and KD was named NBA Finals MVP in both of those years.
Ty Lue picks 2001 Lakers over 2016 Warriors side ‘anytime’
NBA head coach Ty Lue chimed in on his take regarding the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers side or the 2016 Golden State Warriors side. The 2001 Lakers, who had Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant at their best, was an unstoppable force at that time. Lue confidently asserted victory for the 2001 Lakers while appearing on The Draymond Green Show.
Man, I just don’t see nobody like beating the Lakers team. Like I said, when it got KD, I got to go back and reassess. What I’m saying is the biggest factor is like, it’s Shaq. Like, you know what I mean? I’m saying you can’t stop him. Like you can’t guard him. You know what I mean?
Ty Lue on The Draymond Green Show
Kobe Bryant’s scoring and mobility made the Lakers a two-headed monster, while Shaq’s inside dominance served as their fulcrum. Bryant averaged 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game during the 2001 playoffs. He had particularly outstanding performances against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 33.3 points, 7.0 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per contest. They were just a touch above their rivals during their playing years.
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