"Just like the Celtics and Lakers were back in our time" - When Robert Parish shared his perspective on the GSW 73-9 record

The Golden State Warriors made history when they logged a 73-9 record in the 2015-16 season. It’s still the all-time best record by a team but for Boston Celtics legend Robert Parish, that didn’t make the 2016 Warriors the greatest team of all time.

For Parish, eras always have to be factored in when it comes to these types of discussions. Instead of fully acknowledging the Warriors’ historic feat, The Chief pointed out that it was no different from the dominant teams during his era.

Parish reckoned that even though 73-9 was remarkable, the Warriors team is just one of the many great teams in NBA history.

“Well, they’re definitely in the same conversation,” Parish once said of the 2016 Warriors. “I’m not a big fan of comparison because I think each era [is different]. The Warriors are great in this era. They’re one of the best teams ever for this era just like the Celtics and Lakers were back in our time.”

Parish reveals the best team he played with

In all fairness to Parish’s take on the 73-9 Warriors, he really was no stranger to being part of a great team. He was part of the Celtics team that registered a 67-15 record, the second-best in the storied franchise’s history.

However, Parish believes that the 1986-87 Celtics team is still the best squad he has ever been with throughout his NBA career. In the ’90s, Parish recognized the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls, who won the NBA championship, as another great team he had become a part of.

“I know I’m a little biased, but I’d have to say the ’86/’87 team with the Celtics,” Parish revealed. “The Chicago Bulls with that ’96/’97 team would be a close second.”

Kerr compares the 73-9 Dubs to the 72-10 Bulls

Parish made a good point in comparing the 73-9 Warriors to some of the greatest teams of the ’80s, the closest comparison is still the 72-10 Bulls back in 1996. It’s also how former Bulls point guard and current Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sees it from his perspective as a member of both legendary squads.

For Kerr, it wasn’t only the milestone that made the 2016 Dubs and ’96 Bulls similar. Instead, he emphasized that both teams had a certain level of confidence and competitiveness, making them nearly unbeatable as a unit.

“Just the confidence, the swagger — I mean, both teams just felt like there’s no way we’re losing. And when you did lose, it was a shock,” Kerr once said.

“Both teams were so competitive. You know, Draymond and Steph and just the competitive nature of our guys, just like, you know, Michael and Scottie,” the Warriors coach further assessed.

“It’s like, you lose one, it’s like, ‘Fu*k that, we’re going to win 10 in a row.’ And then you win 10 in a row, and you repeat that cycle for five, six months, and it’s like — that’s the recipe for a 70-win season,” Steve added.

Regardless of what anybody says about the Warriors’ 73-9 run, it would be difficult to beat or even match that incredible record. It’s also worth noting that the Warriors had two more historic seasons apart from the 2015-16 campaign.

To this day, their 2014-15 run (67-15) and 2016-17 run (67-15) are still two of the Top 10 all-time best regular-season records by a team.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“Just like the Celtics and Lakers were back in our time” – When Robert Parish shared his perspective on the GSW 73-9 record

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