The Golden State Warriors dynasty found prevalence in the 2016 season. Their improbable rise came with them fulfilling the ultimate task – beating LeBron James in the NBA Finals. From there began a run of dominance and glory. They beat MJ and the Bulls’ regular season record, won three championships more, and are still a formidable side with their core intact. What allowed them to crush the competition was their unique style of sharing the ball and being selfless.

The Warriors system has stayed constant since. There is no focal point in their offense. The objective is to keep possession, have the ball in motion always, and get the best possible shot. Considering they had the two most antagonizing shooters in the NBA, this exact ability set the foundation for a dynasty.

But what inspired this tactic? Stephen Curry remembers Steve Kerr showing them a soccer side that was running with geniuses and had a tactical master as their manager. It was a side that traumatized Europe for years. We are talking about Lionel Messi and Barcelona FC.

Stephen Curry credits Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s Tiki Taka

Around the time the Warriors would become an unconquerable dynasty, there was a powerhouse in European soccer. Barcelona FC had created a style – the Tiki Taka that would rule over the soccer world. They had potent playmakers like Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergio Busquets. These were gifted passers who had surreal composure on the ball. Up the field, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and other legends had high mastery over control and anticipation.

Instead of choosing to dribble, Pep Guardiola, who is regarded as one of the most brilliant managers in soccer history developed a system inspired by the Spanish national team. It was characterized by short passes and systematic development. No player kept the ball for long and there was always a man available. It became so effective that Barcelona FC was unstoppable.

Using the same style, they won the treble, which means winning all the major competitions for that season. Lionel Messi became the best player on the planet and Barcelona, the greatest side. For years their prominence was undeniable. Their style became so famous that Steve Kerr saw its effectiveness on the basketball floor.

Prior to a head coach job, Kerr was always part of several great basketball teams. Namely, it was two dynasties. Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and Popovich’s Spurs. Both the teams had one common trait, they were selfless. Their offense flew through everyone and in the end, the movement augmented every player’s strengths and minimized weaknesses.

During the All-Star presser, Stephen Curry was asked about the time Kerr showed them clips of Barcelona FC going about their business. As far as he could remember, the Warriors were influenced by the “flow and rhythm”.

“It’s a great visual for us to see. It’s a great comparison of body movement, ball movement between the two sports. It’s all about just flow and rhythm and chemistry. We’ve had a certain style that we not mastered.. has evolved over the ten years that he has been coaching. So yeah it was an asserted effort to get us to play a certain way that would help us win. Obviously, we’ve been able to do that,” said the Chef.

This style of keeping the ball moving was a critical contributor to them soaring higher with Kevin Durant. While he is an offensive juggernaut, co-existing with another volume scorer like Curry can’t come without sacrifices. Through this system, the Warriors became selfless. Instead of chasing personal glory, they all went for the bigger objective of winning a title.

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Kerr was able to find the common culture in the two sports. When they united, it created one of the most fierce dynasties in NBA history.

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