NBA Champion Takes Credit for Stephen Curry and Warriors? Glorious Dynasty: Exploring the Truth Behind Bold Claim

The Golden State Warriors have been dominating the NBA for the past decade. With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green on their roster, the team has won four championships in the last eight years. But there is one specific player on the Warriors that helped contribute to them eventually becoming a dynasty.

Richard Jefferson recently shared a clip from his appearance on The Old Man and The Three?podcast. During his conversation with JJ Redick, Jefferson was asked about his time playing for the Golden State Warriors. Jefferson played with the Warriors for 78 games. But Redick believes he is one of the key reasons behind all their success.

The real reason behind the Warriors dynasty, as per Redick

Richard Jefferson played for the Warriors from 2011 to 2013. Although he was not part of the team when they became good, Jefferson made one pivotal move that helped the Warriors get the ball rolling.

Redick asked, “Do you think about the fact that you are directly responsible for the Golden State Dynasty?” This is because Jefferson took the player option on his contract, which allowed the Warriors to make up the money needed to trade him for Andre Iguodala.

In 2013, the Warriors were desperately trying to acquire Iguodala. However, the team did not have enough cap space. As time went on, Iguodala was getting ready to sign with the Sacramento Kings. But in the final hour, the Utah Jazz agreed to take in the expiring contracts of Andris Biedri??, Richard Jefferson, and Brandon Rush.

The Warriors also gave out two first- and second-round picks for this, and in return, they got the player that they wanted, Andre Iguodala. So this trade was possible because Jefferson took the player option, indirectly making him one of the key reasons behind the start of the Warriors dynasty. But when asked if he thought about his, Jefferson gave a different response.

Richard Jefferson’s Impact on Stephen Curry

Jefferson is known for his wit and humor. Although he did not directly respond to JJ’s question, Jefferson said, “I feel directly responsible for their success because of everything I have taught them.” Jefferson lightheartedly revealed that when he saw the young trio of the Warriors, he could see the potential that they had.

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He encouraged Stephen Curry to shoot more threes. Jefferson instilled confidence in Draymond Green that he is versatile on defense even though he is undersized, and he told Klay Thompson that he is special. This may seem less significant now, but it is exactly what happened with the Warriors.

Curry made 272 three-pointers the year Jefferson was traded from the team. But just two years later, he set a new record and made 402 three-pointers in a season. Draymond Green also improved significantly. From just being a player with passion, he became an integral part of the team, could play with Curry, and be a solid engine for the team’s momentum. Klay Thompson became the second-best shooter in the NBA, right behind Curry.

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With Steve Kerr taking on the role of head coach and developing a free-flowing system for the team, the Warriors started their dynasty and won 4 championships in 8 years. Although Jefferson was sarcastic when he made his remarks, he did say that he constantly instilled confidence in the trio during his time with the Warriors, which is something they have taken forward in their championship runs.

What do you think of Richard Jefferson’s comments? Let us know your thoughts below.