1. Golden State Warriors
The NBA’s reprieve from the Golden State Warriors lasted all of two seasons.
With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green back in the NBA Finals, the Warriors brass has done a great job making several under-the-radar acquisitions.
Andrew Wiggins, once labeled a bust coming out of the 2014 NBA Draft as the number one overall pick, has reinvented himself in Golden State. While always viewed as talented beyond belief, Wiggins has been lambasted for his inability to place a franchise on his broad shoulders and carry them across the finish line. In Golden State, however, the pressure is off. As a result, Wiggins was named to his first All-Star Game and has continued to play well throughout their current postseason run, averaging 15.8 points per game on 48% shooting.
Jordon Poole, a well-developed third-year player, has given the Warriors a boost off the bench, dropping 18.5 points per game during the regular season. Explosive and efficient when on the court, Poole is currently supplying 18.4 points per game on an NBA Finals bound Warriors team while shooting better than 53% from the floor, including 65% from 2-point range.
The addition and emergence of both Wiggins and Poole, coupled with the consistency provided by Golden State’s unprecedented trio, makes them public enemy number one and the biggest threat to the LA Clippers’ first championship coronation next season.