To say the Warriors were a mockery in the NBA for much of the past 25 years would be an understatement. Now, after years of watching the Los Angeles Lakers dominate much of the 21st century, the Warriors are basketball’s newest super team and their fans are loving it.
Marcus Thompson also loves the Warriors’ upward trend and told Tolbert & Lund on Friday how good it feels that the tables are turned.
“I do think Warriors fans are still liking this idea that they’re throwing grapes and spitting them on those beneath them,” Thompson said. “You grew up your entire life with the Warriors as laughingstocks and now I still think they just like the view of the throne.”
Following their defeat in the 1994 Western Conference First Round, the Warriors made the playoffs once before 2013, in which they lost to the Utah Jazz in the 2007 semifinals. All the while, Warriors fans trudged along with their team, who struggled through 10 30-or-less-win seasons from 1995-2012.
Meanwhile, the Warriors watched as the Los Angeles Lakers gave their fans plenty to cheer about. Aside from 2005, the Lakers reached the playoffs each year from 1995-2013. Their consistent trips to the playoffs resulted in three consecutive NBA championships from 2000-2002 and another two in 2009 and 2010.
Yet, in the same year the Lakers made their most recent playoff appearance, the Warriors started down their path towards perpetual NBA Finals appearances in 2013. Over the last five seasons, the Warriors reached the playoffs every year and rewarded their fans’ patience with two championships.
And where are the Lakers?
They’ve failed to win more than 27 games in the last four seasons and long gone are the days of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Lamar Odom.
“They’re still going to enjoy it just because they’re still like spitting down on the Lakers’ heads and as long as that’s still happening it’ll be good.”
To listen to the full interview check out the podcast below, and skip to 7:45 for Thompson on the Warriors.