The Warriors can finally start the next NBA season

It’s been more than 200 days since the Golden State Warriors last played a basketball game, a nonchalant loss to then-championship favorites the Los Angeles Clippers. It has been many months since 22 teams met at the Disney Resort in Florida to conclude the 2019-20 NBA season, and thus officially end the Warriors season.

And when LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned champions on Sunday, almost a full year had passed since the season began.

Now it’s over. Former Warriors JaVale McGee and Quinn Cook have added to their ring collections. James has once again staked his claim as the best player in the world. Giannis Antetokounmpo had another disappointing playoff outing that will only fan the flames of rumors that he wants to flee. royal blue and golden yellow Greener pastures.

And we can finally turn our attention fully to the 2020-21 season, even if it’s likely just the 2021 season.

The Warriors are no longer officially the defending champions of the Western Conference. They no longer have a five-year streak of reaching the NBA Finals, nor a seven-year streak of reaching the playoffs.

They’ve been in offseason mode for a while, with Bob Myers, Steve Kerr and the entire front office for months scouting the draft and researching potential free agents and business targets. And now the rest of the league, and we fans are joining them in offseason mode.

It’s a season we’ll never forget, even if it happens to be one of the Warriors’ worst, by record. But it’s also an encouraging season, as it leaves the Warriors poised to welcome a superstar in Steph Curry, a star in Klay Thompson and the second overall pick in the next draft. That, plus a full season from Andrew Wiggins and a reportedly motivated and healthy Draymond Green, means the Dubs have the same chance as any other team to beat the Lakers next year.

It feels strange to call it a significant week, seven months after the Warriors season ended. But it feels like this. The strange and historic NBA season is over.

And now is the time for a new one.