The Golden State Warriors changed modern basketball with a three-point-heavy style that powered a dynasty in the 2010s. Their history goes back to the NBA's earliest days. Here's how to understand Warriors odds.
Who the Golden State Warriors are
City and arena
The Warriors were founded in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, a founding BAA member, and won the league's first championship in 1947. They moved to San Francisco in 1962, then to Oakland in 1971, becoming the Golden State Warriors. In 2019 they returned to San Francisco, opening Chase Center in the Mission Bay neighborhood.
Famous eras
- Philadelphia titles: championships in 1947 and 1956. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game for the Philadelphia Warriors, a record that still stands as one of the most famous feats in sports.
- 1975 champions: led by Rick Barry, the Warriors swept the heavily favored Washington Bullets.
- "We Believe": in 2007, the Warriors upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks as an eighth seed.
- The modern dynasty: built around elite three-point shooting and ball movement, the Warriors won titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, and set the regular-season record of 73 wins in 2015-16.
Rivalries
The Cleveland Cavaliers rivalry defined the late 2010s, with four straight Finals meetings from 2015 to 2018. In the West, rivalries with the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies have been notable.
How to read odds on Warriors games
Favorite or underdog
Warriors -4 (-110), moneyline -175: implied 175 ÷ 275 = 63.6%. Warriors +5.5 (-110), moneyline +185: implied 100 ÷ 285 = 35.1%.
Three-point variance
Teams that rely heavily on the three-pointer have higher game-to-game variance. A team shooting 40% from three on 40 attempts scores 48 points from deep; at 30% it scores 36. That 12-point swing can happen from normal randomness. It means:
- Spreads involving high-volume shooting teams can feel unpredictable.
- Totals can swing a lot.
- A hot or cold shooting night shouldn't change your long-term view too much.
Worked example: total and shooting luck
A Warriors game total is 230.5. In the previous game, they shot unusually well from three and the game went way over. The market keeps the next total near 230, adjusting only slightly.
If you think last game's shooting was mostly luck, you'd agree with the market. If you think it reflected a real change (a returning shooter, a new lineup), you might lean over. Always ask: is this skill, or just variance? See streaks and form.
Star availability
As with all NBA teams, star player status moves lines a lot. Teams built around one or two stars can see spreads swing several points on a single injury report. See reading injury reports.
Home court in San Francisco
The Warriors have long had a reputation for strong home crowds, first in Oakland and now in San Francisco. Home advantage is priced in.
Aging cores and rest
Dynasties eventually age. When a team's key players are veterans, coaches often manage minutes more carefully, especially on back-to-backs and during the regular season. That adds uncertainty to individual games and can make late injury reports even more important. A veteran team's regular-season results may also understate how well it can play when fully rested in the playoffs, which is one reason its futures prices can stay shorter than its record suggests.
What to check before picking Warriors games
- Star and shooter availability.
- Three-point variance in recent games.
- Back-to-backs and rest days for veterans.
- Opponent's perimeter defense.
- Pace for totals.
- The price. See implied probability.
Futures
During the dynasty, the Warriors were often the title favorite. When a team is the clear favorite, its championship price may imply 30% or more. Whatever the era, convert the price to a percentage and ask whether the team really has that chance. See championship odds.
Practice with play money
Warriors games are great for learning about variance in high-scoring, three-point-heavy basketball. On MockSport you can make free play-money picks on Warriors totals and spreads and track how shooting luck affects outcomes. Visit the odds page.
FAQ
How many championships have the Warriors won?
Seven: 1947 and 1956 in Philadelphia, 1975 in Oakland, and 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 in the modern era.
What is the NBA regular-season wins record?
The Warriors set it with 73 wins in the 2015-16 season.
Why are three-point-heavy teams harder to predict?
Because shooting percentages from three vary a lot game to game, creating big swings in scoring that can decide spreads and totals.