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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The Golden State Warriors have experienced unprecedented success in recent years. They went from near obscurity to being one of the top title contenders in the league. This transformation was brought on by the hard work of their franchise cornerstones – Steph, Draymond, and Klay. Joining them in their formative years was Kevin Durant, who also helped the team win two of their four championships.

While the obvious reason for their success can be attributed to the team’s incredible three-point shooting, bench depth, basketball IQ, and work ethic, there is one thing missing in this equation. The former Warriors’s swingman recently revealed the team’s secret sauce that led them to four championships.

Former NBA veteran opens up about his stint with the Warriors

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In his 14-year career, former veteran Matt Barnes has played for nine different teams, but it is his stint with the Golden State that he cherishes the most. Barnes had been on the team early in his career for two years, from 2006 to 2008. He then returned to the team in 2017 after Kevin Durant went down with an MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise.

Barnes was welcomed to the team as a replacement forward in Durant’s absence. This time around, Barnes was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Warriors’ historic 2017 NBA Finals win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

During a recent appearance on the Point Forward podcast, Matt Barnes revealed the Warriors’ open secret to multiple championships. As per Barnes, the most important factor that makes them such a formidable squad is the team’s culture and chemistry. And he does not shy away from speaking his mind.

“There was no egos, you know. I mean everyone left that s**t at the door and getting a chance to be on a team that talented where it’s just about winning I was like damn if the world can understand. To me, that’s a secret of why you guys won? The way you guys love and f**k with each other like that’s not normal,” said Barnes.?However, he does have one regret from his 2017 campaign with the Warriors.

Matt Barnes’ one regret from the 2017 NBA Finals run

Matt Barnes played 20 games for the Warriors, starting five of them. He was averaging 5.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. However, he had a bigger impact on the defensive end. But just when he thought he had developed a synergy with the team, he was sidelined due to an ankle sprain.

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The injury came right before the playoffs, and he was not back on his foot until the second round of the playoffs when the Warriors were already 8-0. Therefore, his major regret is not being able to compete and contribute in the way he would have liked.

He said, “I got hurt the game KD came back, and it was like probably my worst ankle sprain in my life. So I kind of had to just sit there and be a vet and talk to guys in support and kind of got a front-row seat. But that was kind of one of the hardest experiences in my life because it was probably one of the best but the fact that I was hurt, and I didn’t get to earn that ring.”

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For an athlete who spent hours training and working out, it sure hurt to not be able to convert it on the hardwood. He continued, “I felt like my body of work, that the years I put in the league got that ring, but I’m a competitor, I wanted to be out there guarding Kawai and LeBron and all these other motherf**kers that I know I could help with and not being healthy and having to sit and watch that shit was hard.”?

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