“I was a shooting guard. Now I’m playing the five” – Nicolas Batum shares how the Warriors changed the game in 2015 originally appeared on Basketball Network.
While there were teams that employed “small-ball” and achieved success with it (The “Seven Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns were a fine example), no other team has had the impact on the league as the Golden State Warriors did. Led by their sharpshooting backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, along with versatile forwards Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes, the Dubs came out of the blue and became a dominant force in 2015.
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There was a moment, though, that changed the course of NBA basketball. It came in Game 4 of the 2015 NBA Finals between the Dubs and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite not having All-Stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, who suffered season-ending injuries in the playoffs, the Cavs leaned on the brilliance of LeBron James and the unexpected stellar play of Matthew Dellavedova to take a 2-1 series lead.
With their brilliant season teetering on the brink of collapse, the Warriors tweaked their starting lineup for that game, taking out center Andrew Bogut and putting in wily veteran Andre Iguodala, ushering in their revered “Death Lineup.” Golden State would not only win Game 4 and, later on, the 2015 title but also lay out the blueprint for modern NBA basketball.
The small-ball lineup changed everything
With Curry, Klay, Dray, Barnes, and Iggy, the Dubs employed a quintet that had the ability to shoot, pass, and defend at a high level. This small-ball lineup revolutionized the game, proving that size isn’t always necessary for success on the court. Their ability to spread the floor and shoot from beyond the arc challenged traditional notions of what a winning team should look like. Their fast-paced, high-scoring offense caught other teams off guard and forced them to adapt.
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Veteran forward Nicolas Batum attested to how the 2015 Warriors changed the league’s landscape.
“2015–2016, the Warriors just, they changed everything,” Batum said on “The Old Man and The Three.” “Game 4 in 2015, when the small-ball lineup changed everything.”
The Cavs got their revenge the following season, capturing the 2016 title and ruining the Warriors’ historic regular season. Golden State upped the ante once again during that offseason when they replaced Barnes with former league MVP Kevin Durant. With KD on board, the Dubs won two straight titles, dominating the league with their incredible play on both ends.
Extended Batum’s career
As hard as it was to deal with the Warriors during those years, Batum claimed there was a silver lining to their style of play: it helped extend his career and that of others who had a similar playing style.
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“That’s the thing. Like, a guy like me, I mean, the Warriors gave me five more years in the NBA,” Nico, a 6’8″ “3-and-D”wingman said. “I mean, when the Warriors did that — I was a shooting guard. Now I’m playing the five, ’cause I can play the five, because they allow me to play the five, because they changed everything.”
Nicolas ‘ versatility and ability to play multiple positions became even more valuable, with many teams regularly putting out a five-man lineup without a traditional big man. Batum was able to defend smaller guards on the perimeter while also using his length and athleticism to hold his own against bigger players in the paint.
However, the Frenchman acknowledged how NBA teams are now reverting to playing large lineups that feature dominant big men like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.
“Now the league is kind of getting — we’re getting back to the two-big stuff. It’s coming back, unless Indy wins. But yeah, I mean, the Warriors extended a lot of careers,” Batum added.
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At 36 years old and with 17 NBA seasons behind him, Batum may be approaching the twilight of his career. Yet, there’s no denying that the Warriors have played a pivotal role in revitalizing his game, providing Nicolas the platform toshowcase his versatility even in the later stages of his journey.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.