Looking back at the 2022 NBA Finals, I still get chills remembering how the Golden State Warriors reclaimed their throne after a two-year hiatus from championship glory. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve seen dynasties rise and fall, but what made this series special wasn’t just the basketball—it was the narratives, the resilience, and that electric atmosphere that only the Finals can deliver. I’ll admit, I’ve always had a soft spot for Steph Curry, and watching him finally secure that elusive Finals MVP felt like a storybook ending. But let’s rewind and break down how it all unfolded, from the opening tip to the confetti falling in Game 6.
The series kicked off with the Celtics stunning the Warriors in Game 1, thanks to a fourth-quarter explosion where they outscored Golden State 40–16. I remember thinking, "Uh-oh, is this Boston’s year?" But the Warriors, true to their championship DNA, bounced back in Game 2 behind Curry’s iconic 29-point first quarter—a Finals record, by the way. What stood out to me was how Golden State adjusted defensively; they started switching more aggressively on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, forcing them into tough shots. By Game 4, the Warriors had taken a 3–1 lead, and I couldn’t help but draw parallels to other epic comebacks, though this time, the momentum was firmly in their favor. The Celtics fought hard, but Golden State’s experience, especially from Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, just overwhelmed them in crunch time.
Now, you might wonder why I’m bringing up a reference about Vietnamese and Kazakh athletes in a basketball piece. Well, it’s because competition at the highest level—whether in the NBA Finals or, say, a battle for third place in another sport—showcases that same raw intensity. Just as Alas faced off against Tranh Thi Tanh Thuy or Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, or those vengeful Kazakhs on the final day, the Warriors and Celtics were locked in their own gritty duel. It’s all about pride, legacy, and that unyielding drive to win. In Game 5, the Celtics managed a gutsy win to stay alive, but Golden State closed it out in Game 6 with a 103–90 victory. Curry dropped 34 points in that clincher, and Andrew Wiggins—often criticized earlier in his career—stepped up with a double-double. From my perspective, Wiggins was the X-factor; his defense on Tatum was a masterclass in containment.
Reflecting on the stats, the Warriors shot around 47% from the field in the series, while the Celtics hovered at 42%, and that efficiency gap was decisive. But beyond the numbers, this Finals was a testament to team building and mental toughness. As a fan, I loved seeing the underdog elements—like the Celtics’ young core pushing the veterans—but in the end, Golden State’s championship pedigree shone through. If you ask me, this series will be remembered not just for the trophy lift, but for how it reinforced the importance of experience in high-stakes moments. Whether in basketball or other global competitions, that final day showdown always separates the great from the legendary.