It was unfair. Honestly, that’s the only way to describe the Golden State Warriors starting lineup 2017. If you were a fan of any other team in the NBA back then, you probably spent most of your evenings yelling at the television because the math just didn't add up. How do you guard two of the greatest shooters in history, a former MVP in his absolute prime, and a Defensive Player of the Year all at the same time? You don't. You just hope they miss.
They didn't miss much.
The 2016-17 season was a pivot point for basketball. After losing a 3-1 lead in the Finals the year prior, the Warriors went out and signed Kevin Durant. People called it soft. People called it a "snake move." But from a purely tactical standpoint, it created the most efficient offensive engine the world had ever seen. When you look back at that Golden State Warriors starting lineup 2017, you aren't just looking at a basketball team. You're looking at a group that broke the spirit of the league for a solid three-year stretch.
The five names that changed everything
Most people remember the "Hamptons Five," but the actual day-to-day starting unit was a bit more traditional. It started with Stephen Curry. He’s the engine. Without Steph's gravity, the whole thing falls apart. Then you had Klay Thompson, the man who could score 60 points while barely touching the ball. At the small forward spot, Kevin Durant provided a level of ISO scoring that was frankly terrifying for a team that already moved the ball better than anyone else.
Draymond Green took the power forward slot. He was the heartbeat, the trash talker, and the guy who made sure the defense never fell asleep. Finally, the center position was usually occupied by Zaza Pachulia. Now, Zaza wasn't a superstar—far from it. But he was a massive body who set bone-crushing screens and did the dirty work so the superstars could shine.
The chemistry was weirdly perfect. You’d think adding a guy like Durant to a 73-win team would cause an ego explosion, but it did the opposite. It made everyone's life easier.
Stephen Curry: The Gravity King
In 2017, Steph was coming off the only unanimous MVP season in history. He could have easily demanded the ball every possession. Instead, he shared it. His impact on the Golden State Warriors starting lineup 2017 wasn't just about his 25.3 points per game; it was about the fact that defenders were scared to leave him even when he was 35 feet away from the hoop.
This created "gravity." Because two defenders had to chase Steph around screens, the middle of the floor was wide open.
📖 Related: Forest Green Rovers FC Standings: Why They Are Still Chasing the Top Spot
Kevin Durant: The Ultimate Closer
Durant was the cheat code. If a play broke down, or if the shot clock was winding down, you just gave it to the 7-foot guy who shoots like a guard. He averaged 25.1 points on incredible efficiency that year. He shot 53.7% from the field. For a perimeter player, that is essentially video game logic.
Why the defense was actually better than the offense
Everyone talks about the shooting. The "Splash Brothers" this, "KD" that. But the reason the Golden State Warriors starting lineup 2017 was so dominant was their ability to switch everything on defense.
Draymond Green was the conductor. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 for a reason. He could guard a lightning-fast point guard on one possession and a 280-pound center on the next. It drove opponents crazy. There was nowhere to hide. If you tried to run a pick-and-roll, the Warriors would just switch, and suddenly you were staring into the chest of Kevin Durant or the active hands of Klay Thompson.
The unsung reliability of Klay Thompson
Klay is the most low-maintenance superstar in NBA history. In the 2017 season, he was often tasked with guarding the opponent's best player so Steph could save his energy for offense. He’d spend 40 minutes chasing Kyrie Irving or Damian Lillard, and then he’d still go out and drop 22 points on a diet of catch-and-shoot threes.
He didn't need the ball. He just needed a split second of daylight.
The Zaza Factor
Let’s be real: Zaza Pachulia was the most hated man in San Antonio after the Kawhi Leonard incident in the playoffs. But for the Warriors, he was a necessary piece. He played about 18 minutes a game. He averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds. It wasn't flashy, but he gave them a physical presence that allowed Draymond to float around and cause havoc. When the games got tight, Steve Kerr would bench Zaza and bring in Andre Iguodala, moving Draymond to center. That was the "Death Lineup." That was when teams truly realized they were doomed.
The statistical absurdity of the 2016-17 season
Numbers usually lie a little bit, but not here. The Warriors finished the regular season with a 67-15 record. That’s impressive, sure. But look at the playoffs. They went 16-1. They nearly swept the entire postseason.
- Offensive Rating: 115.6 (1st in NBA)
- Defensive Rating: 104.0 (2nd in NBA)
- Net Rating: +11.6
That +11.6 net rating is one of the highest in the history of the sport. It basically means they were beating teams by double digits on average every single night. It wasn't even competitive most of the time. You’d look up at the end of the third quarter and they’d be on a 20-2 run. Game over.
Misconceptions about that 2017 squad
A lot of people think they just out-talented everyone. While the talent was undeniable, the coaching of Steve Kerr was the glue. He implemented a motion offense that relied on constant cutting and screening.
Some critics say the Golden State Warriors starting lineup 2017 ruined the league. They argue it made the result too predictable. Maybe. But if you appreciate high-level execution, it was a masterpiece. They led the league in assists by a wide margin (30.4 per game). They weren't just taking turns playing isolation ball; they were finding the best possible shot every time down the floor.
How the 2017 lineup compares to today
If you dropped that 2017 lineup into today's NBA, they would still dominate. The league has shifted toward more three-point shooting, which plays right into their hands. However, the depth of the league has improved. Teams are now built specifically to counter the "switch-everything" style that the Warriors perfected.
But honestly? Nobody has found a way to stop a healthy Steph, Klay, and KD.
Actionable insights for basketball fans and students of the game
If you want to understand why this team worked, you have to look past the box score. Focus on these three elements:
- Off-ball movement: Watch old highlights of the 2017 season. Notice how Steph Curry never stops moving after he passes the ball. Most players stand still. Steph sprints to the corner, dragging two defenders with him. This is the secret to their spacing.
- Defensive communication: Draymond Green was constantly pointing and screaming instructions. A starting lineup is only as good as its loudest communicator.
- Sacrifice: Kevin Durant took fewer shots than he did in Oklahoma City. Steph took fewer shots than he did in 2016. Winning at that level requires superstars to be okay with scoring 20 instead of 35.
The Golden State Warriors starting lineup 2017 remains the gold standard for modern team building. They weren't just a collection of stars; they were a perfectly calibrated machine. If you're building a team—whether in a local league or just analyzing the pros—the lesson is simple: talent wins games, but overlapping skill sets and selfless movement win championships.
To truly appreciate what they did, go back and watch Game 1 of the 2017 Finals. The way they dismantled a very good Cleveland Cavaliers team in transition is a clinic on fast-break basketball that hasn't been matched since. Pay attention to the spacing on the wings; it’s a blueprint for how the game is played today.