“We know that at any point in the game, they can embarrass us” – Giannis reveals the excitement and fear that came with playing the peak Warriors originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Playing the Golden State Warriors when they were at the peak of their powers provided teams with an opportunity to be in the spotlight. With most of the Dubs’ games broadcast to a national audience, this meant opposing teams had a chance to showcase their skills on the biggest stage.
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However, that opportunity was a double-edged sword. It was a chance to shine for opposing players by delivering a standout performance against the Warriors. Yet, it also carried the risk of being outclassed on a grand stage — an outcome that, more often than not, became the reality.
A player who knew this well was Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the Greek Freak was someone who never backed down from a challenge, he was candid enough to acknowledge how different those Warriors teams were, especially with their tenacity and firepower on both ends.
There was a chance you were going to get humiliated
For small-market teams like the Bucks, facing off against the Warriors sparked excitement, as it was a chance to measure themselves against the league’s best. At that time, they were still a few pieces away from contending for the title. After starting slow, Giannis had come into his own and averaged 26.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game during the 2017-18 season.
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However, the Warriors were the league’s standard-bearers, winning titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018. With league MVPs Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and All-Stars Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, they were a well-oiled machine. Speaking before their match-up in January 2018, Giannis harped on the duality of taking on the Warriors.
“Whenever we play against them, we’re excited and scared at the same time,” Giannis stated. “Because we know that at any point in the game, they can embarrass us.”
In that game, that point came in the fourth quarter. The Bucks seized control with a dominant 33-17 surge in the third quarter, but the Warriors answered with a dazzling 28-12 run of their own. A decisive 14-2 stretch within that rally ultimately turned the tide, leaving the Bucks reeling and Warriors victorious, 108-94.
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The tough part? Curry didn’t even play in that game.
Opponents know they must remain focused for 48 minutes
Another NBA personality who knows all too well the difficulties of facing off against the Warriors is former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Ty Lue. After all, he and the Cavs took on the Dubs three straight times in the NBA Finals, winning once in 2016.
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He suggested that the Warriors’ exceptional firepower left opposing teams with virtually no margin for error. Letting their guard down, even briefly, could prove disastrous — something the Cavaliers experienced firsthand during a regular-season game in January 2018.
In that game, the two teams were tied at 93-all. The match seemed destined for a thrilling conclusion. However, the Cavs showed some slippage, which was all it took for the Warriors to go on a 15-4 run that gave them an insurmountable lead.
“They’re the only team that you look at the game and it’s a two-point game, and then you go to the bathroom, come back out and they’re up 15,” Lue said of that game, which ended with the Warriors taking a 118-108 win.
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Those years were tough times for the entire league. With the Warriors featuring a stacked roster that clicked on all cylinders, opposing teams faced a constant battle to stay focused and never let their guard down. One moment of complacency could lead to disaster, as the Cavs and Bucks learned.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.