Who Won the 2018 NBA Championship and How They Dominated the Season

When I look back at the 2018 NBA season, what stands out most vividly isn't just who won—it's how they dominated. The Golden State Warriors captured their third championship in four years, and frankly, it felt inevitable. As someone who's followed the league for over two decades, I've rarely seen a team so thoroughly control both the narrative and the court. They finished the regular season with a 58-24 record, which honestly doesn't fully capture their dominance because they were clearly pacing themselves for the playoffs. What impressed me most was their ability to flip a switch when it mattered, something I've come to appreciate in championship-caliber teams.

I remember watching their playoff run thinking they were playing a different sport than everyone else. They swept the Spurs in the first round, handled the Pelicans in five games, and then came back from a 3-2 deficit against the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. That Game 7 against Houston was particularly telling—with Chris Paul injured, the Warriors smelled blood and executed with that cold efficiency we've come to expect from them. The way they closed out that series reminded me of dominant players in other leagues who maintain their form regardless of circumstances, much like how June Mar Fajardo in the PBA continues to deliver MVP-level performances even when key teammates are unavailable. There's something special about athletes who can consistently perform at elite levels regardless of external factors.

The Finals against Cleveland was almost anticlimactic. Sure, it went to a sweep, but anyone watching could see the massive gap between the teams. What made the Warriors so formidable was their offensive system—the constant motion, the unselfish ball movement, the way they could generate quality looks from anywhere on the floor. They averaged 29.4 assists per game in the playoffs that year, which is just absurd in modern basketball. I've always believed that beautiful basketball is winning basketball, and the 2018 Warriors were the ultimate proof of that philosophy.

Their defensive versatility often gets overlooked in discussions about their offensive brilliance. With Draymond Green quarterbacking the defense and Kevin Durant's length causing problems on switches, they could effectively defend any style. I particularly enjoyed watching them dismantle opposing offenses through intelligent help defense and timely rotations. They held opponents to just 104.5 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, which is championship-level defense by any measure.

What really separated this Warriors team, in my opinion, was their collective basketball IQ. Having watched countless teams throughout NBA history, I can confidently say this was one of the smartest teams ever assembled. Steph Curry's off-ball movement, Klay Thompson's defensive positioning, Andre Iguodala's situational awareness—they all played with such profound understanding of the game's nuances. This intellectual approach to basketball is what allowed them to dominate despite not having the most physically imposing roster.

The addition of Kevin Durant two years earlier had clearly pushed them into historic territory, creating what I consider the most talented team in NBA history. While some purists might argue against superteams, I've always believed that watching basketball played at its highest possible level is what makes the sport beautiful. The 2018 Warriors were basketball perfection—a harmonious blend of individual brilliance and collective execution that we may not see again for quite some time.

Their championship victory felt like the culmination of a carefully constructed plan that began years earlier. From drafting Curry and Thompson to attracting Durant in free agency, every move seemed perfectly calculated. As someone who studies team building across different sports, I appreciate how the Warriors organization created an environment where stars could coexist and thrive together. They proved that with the right culture and system, talent can be maximized rather than diminished by egos.

Looking back, what strikes me most about that 2018 team was their mental toughness. After winning in 2017, they could have become complacent, but instead they maintained their hunger throughout the season. Even when injuries hit or when they faced adversity in the playoffs, they never panicked. That championship mentality—the ability to perform under pressure and deliver when it matters most—is what separates great teams from legendary ones. The Warriors didn't just win the 2018 championship; they demonstrated a level of dominance that will be discussed for generations to come.