With Andre Iguodala’s jersey retirement this week, call the Dubs Andre 3000!
The Golden State Warriors just casually dropped a 128-92 beatdown on the Charlotte Hornets, and while routing a shorthanded team on a Tuesday night might not seem especially spectacular, this wasn’t just any ordinary win. This was win number 3,000 in franchise history, placing the Dubs in basketball’s most exclusive club alongside the Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, and 76ers.
Let that marinate for a second. Only FIVE franchises in NBA history have hit this milestone. The Warriors just strutted into basketball immortality while barely breaking a sweat.
3,000 Ws and counting pic.twitter.com/RQrQEzafb7
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 26, 2025
What makes this accomplishment so deliciously satisfying is remembering where this franchise came from. For the youngsters who only know dynasty Warriors, let me take you on a quick history lesson: this organization was once considered the laughingstock of the league. The wilderness years between Run TMC and the Splash Brothers featured more punchlines than playoff appearances.
From Philly to the Bay, the Warriors’ journey spans 78 years of hoops history. Born in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, they claimed the inaugural BAA championship in 1947 (before the NBA even existed as we know it). Their first official NBA victory came against the Boston Celtics in November 1948 – a 94-73 win that would be the first brick in this 3,000-win monument.
The Butler Effect
How perfect is it that this milestone coincides with the team’s sudden revival? Since acquiring Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are 6-1 and looking like a completely different squad. The immediate Butler bump feels like destiny for a franchise that’s mastered the art of the midseason acquisition (remember when we got Andrew Bogut? Or Andre Iguodala?).
Speaking of Iguodala, it’s poetic that this 3,000th win arrives shortly after the team retired his No. 9 jersey at Chase Center. The connective tissue between Warriors eras keeps strengthening.
Witness to History
When Buddy Hield dropped a team-high 16 points off the bench to lead the balanced attack Tuesday night, he probably didn’t realize he was etching his name into a historical footnote. Steph Curry and Draymond Green each contributed 15 points to the milestone victory – fitting considering how central they’ve been to the team’s modern resurrection.
Green’s postgame reflection captured the journey perfectly: “Just to be a part of this rich history of this franchise, and also helping revive and bring this franchise back to prominence has been a journey, an incredible journey.”
That’s what makes this 3,000th win feel more significant than just a round number. It’s not just about quantity – it’s about the quality of the storytelling. The Warriors’ tale has more plot twists than a prestige HBO series, more character development than most novels.
From Philadelphia to Golden State
The franchise transformations tell America’s story in miniature. From Philadelphia beginnings with Wilt Chamberlain breaking records, to San Francisco in 1962, and finally becoming the “Golden State” Warriors in 1971 – the team’s geography parallels the country’s westward evolution.
Those 3,000 wins span:
- 37 playoff appearances
- 6 NBA championships
- Countless iconic moments
From Wilt’s 100-point game to Rick Barry’s underhanded free throws to Run TMC to “We Believe” to the Splash Brothers dynasty, this franchise has provided some of basketball’s most unforgettable chapters.
Beyond the Numbers
What makes the Warriors’ 3,000 wins special isn’t just the quantity but the quality. We’re talking about a franchise that revolutionized basketball TWICE – first with Al Attles’ emphasis on team basketball in the 70s, then with Kerr’s motion offense and positionless small-ball that transformed the modern game.
Now sitting eighth in the Western Conference at 31-27, these Warriors aren’t content with historical footnotes. As Draymond put it: “It’s special, but we’ve got a lot more work to do.”
That’s the Warriors DNA right there – appreciating history while chasing the future.
For a franchise once mocked, now envied, reaching 3,000 wins isn’t just a milestone. It’s validation that excellence, persistence and innovation eventually pay off. From Philadelphia to San Francisco to Golden State, through 78 years and countless roster iterations, the Warriors have built something truly extraordinary.
The team that once couldn’t get free agents to return their calls now stands as basketball royalty. And somewhere, Chris Cohan is probably wondering how he managed to own the most valuable sports property on the planet and still be remembered as the guy who nearly ruined it all.
Three thousand wins down. Countless more to go. The Warriors’ story keeps getting better, and if the Jimmy Butler era is any indication, the next thousand might come faster than anyone expects.