When “The Last Dance” documentary was released, basketball fans were stunned to see the level of internal adversity within the championship-winning Chicago Bulls team. The behind-the-scenes tension between players and the management made it clear that for any dynasty to make a name for itself, rough patches are inevitable.
Recently, Klay Thompson doubled down on this narrative, admitting that even during the Golden State Warriors‘ prime years, constant confrontations existed between players, including himself and Steph Curry. Still, with the collective goal so significant, no one allowed personal differences to get in the way.
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Klay on the internal struggles the Warriors faced
From the outside, most fans tend to remember only two major incidents of internal turmoil for Golden State: Draymond Green’s heated exchange with Kevin Durant and his infamous punch to Jordan Poole’s face in the team’s practice session.
However, Thompson clarified that when a group of professional players tend to spend so much time together, traveling, eating outside and competing together, disagreements naturally flare up. Klay explained that the Warriors had plenty of day-to-day arguments, and the competitive drive often caused players to take offense at even minor slights.
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Thompson admitted that over the years, he himself got into heated exchanges with Green, Coach Steve Kerr and Curry. However, what separated the Warriors was the strength of their brotherhood and the clarity of their shared mission to win championships.
“For us, there have been a lot of scuffles, a lot of bad words said, and feelings hurt. But at the end of the day, we know we just want to win. There were times there would be friction, whether it be Draymond and I, or Steph and I, or Coach and I,” Thompson said. “It’s just part of it. And you grow from it. You be man enough to leave that on the court and be a professional about it.”
Successful dynasties are built through maturity
What Klay said makes a lot of sense: that ability to sacrifice for the bigger picture has always been at the heart of great dynasties. In the 1980s, Kevin McHale sacrificed personal numbers for the success of the Boston Celtics. Then, in the ’90s, Scottie Pippen did the same for the Bulls, and in the 2010s, Thompson embraced that role for Golden State, downplaying his role when Kevin Durant came in.
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It’s safe to say that these players understood they could achieve more individual accolades, but the team always came first. Just as importantly, championship teams thrive only when everyone accepts the leadership of their superstars. Role players allow these superstars to be the team’s focal point and continue to work hard behind the scenes.
Thus, every great team goes through its share of internal adversity, but those who are able to collectively put aside these differences before stepping onto the court are the ones who script their names in the history books.
This should be the blueprint for younger teams being built in the modern era. Suppose they want to chase championships consistently, build a solid core at a young age, and thrive. In that case, they need to set their egos and personal agendas aside — the Oklahoma City Thunder and their 2025 championship run are the perfect example of that path working.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.