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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Warriors well-built for success

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OAKLAND, California: The Golden State Warriors made a strong case to be called one of the best teams in NBA history after a near-perfect run through the play-offs resulted in their second title in three years.


The scary part for the NBA’s 29 other teams — this may just be the beginning. That is because the Warriors boast an intimidating starting line-up featuring four All-Stars in their 20s who are likely to be with the team for years to come.


Two-time reigning league MVP Stephen Curry is expected to sign the richest contract in NBA history this off-season as the league’s best three-point marksman will be eligible for a five-year deal worth an estimated $207 million. “I’m just excited to do something special,” Curry said during the presentation of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy on Monday in Oakland after his team beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. “I’m ready to do it again.”


If so he will have help from shooting guard Klay Thompson and do-it-all power forward Draymond Green, who are already locked into long-term contracts with the Warriors.


And then there is Kevin Durant. The 7-foot (2.13 m) small forward and 2017 Finals MVP has said that after his controversial decision leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Warriors last off-season, he is not eager to move again.


Durant is so dedicated to winning multiple championships that he is reportedly considering taking less money from the team in order to free up space to re-sign key reserves like Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala.


That all spells trouble for the rest of the league, who saw the Warriors capture a title in 2015, win a record-setting 73 games the next regular season before Durant moved to the Bay Area and the team became a juggernaut. “They’re going to be around for a while,” Cavaliers forward LeBron James said after suffering his second Finals defeat in three years to a Warriors team that went 16-1 in the play-offs. “Pretty much all their big-name guys are in their 20s, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.”


And the team’s coaching staff is equally formidable. After being sidelined for part of last season and again during the 2017 playoffs with back pain, head coach Steve Kerr returned during the Finals and said he intends to coach “for a long time.”


— Reuters


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