Golden State Warriors’ ‘Others’ Deserve Recognition After Stunning Title Run

The Golden State Warriors have conquered all odds by winning the 2021-22 NBA championship after a stellar Game 6 performance from the entire team.

Their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all had their part to play as they always have, but their so-called “others” also deserve as much praise.

When the Warriors acquired Andrew Wiggins from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a package centered around D’Angelo Russell, few thought that he would have the impact that he has had on the team.

Serving as a supplementary scorer when Curry and Thompson are having an off night, Wiggins was given the task of taking on the role of carrying the offense and it led to his first-ever All-Star selection.

Averaging 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a steal per game in the regular season, “Maple Jordan” shined bright in the playoffs with a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to take the commanding 3-2 series lead.

Wiggins also took on the role of shutting down Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum in the Finals, something that he did so effectively that fan opinion of Tatum has soured on social media.

The 2015 Rookie of the Year was as integral to their run as both Jordan Poole and defensive ace Gary Payton II.

Poole found minutes within the guard-heavy lineup after Curry and Thompson were sidelined due to injury and has since become one of their most potent offensive weapons off the bench.

With an ability to score just like Curry and make set shots like Thompson, Poole is the undisputed sixth man of the Warriors and will continue to play that role moving forward for as long as “The Splash Brothers” are playing together.

He has shown that he can carry the offensive load just as well as the other two can, even sinking in buzzer-beating shots in Game 2 and Game 5.

The progeny and namesake of NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton has been one of their most important role players off the bench because of his similarities to his father.

Nicknamed “Baby Glove” in reference to the elder Payton, he can generate points off of turnovers with ease thanks to his quick hands and reaction time.

Warriors' fans hopes for a title grew when it was reported that Payton was going to be available for Game 1 of the Finals after he suffered an elbow fracture in their series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Role players rarely get the respect they deserve from most fans because they do not have as much time in the limelight as their counterparts on the starting five.

However, the Warriors’ dynamic duo of the bench plus Wiggins proved that championships are built on more than just having stars.