November 5, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 121-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
“If you have committed ownership, you have a chance in this league.”
Bob Myers understood the framework of what it takes to have a successful organization from his first day on the job. What made the Golden State Warriors the doormats of the NBA for decades wasn’t inept management, porous coaching or even lack of talent on the roster, but ownership.
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Under previous ownership, the Warriors simply had no chance at being a consistent threat. Despite their brief stint of success during the We Believe era, the team shared no resemblance to such successful franchises like the San Antonio Spurs or Los Angeles Lakers. Their success was just a mirage, a short-lived look at what it feels like to actually win significant games.
March 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers during the first half in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 Conference tournament between the Utah Utes and the Oregon Ducks at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and their band of minority owners weren’t the popular choice to succeed the preceding ownership group, but given the transaction was addition-by-subtraction regardless, it was a relief nonetheless to fans and followers of the franchise. Not much was known about Lacob and Co., but everyone knew it wasn’t them.
After spending one year under Larry Riley as Assistant General Manager/Vice President of Basketball Operations, Myers was promoted in April of 2012 to General Manager. Lacob, as any successful businessman (and owner) does, hired a plethora of smart minds to join his staff. Understanding one person can’t know it all, the expression “too many cooks in the kitchen” wasn’t a detriment, but an advantage.
It’s this rare combination of quality and quantity that has led the Warriors to history this past season: 67 wins, NBA title favorites, the presumptive Most Valuable Player and now, the Executive of the Year. Individual accolades isn’t the highest of priorities for anyone on a championship team, but they’re reassuring for those following a franchise that just five years ago had little direction, assets or hope.
Myers was awarded the Executive of the Year award on Friday, but it’s been his moves during his entire tenure that have gotten him to this point. The aggression and determination of Myers and ownership to hire Steve Kerr away from the New York Knicks was his biggest move of this past offseason, but make no mistake: Kerr isn’t with Golden State if it wasn’t for the surplus of solid moves leading up to the recruitment.
In his first draft, Myers selected Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli and Draymond Green. All three of which have played key roles this season and will continue to throughout the playoffs. Barnes over the likes of Andre Drummond has been criticized, but given the success the team is having with Barnes now in a starting role, Andrew Bogut healthy and the aforementioned Ezeli, the team isn’t feeling the loss as much as they could be.
Myers orchestrated the extension for oft-injured point guard Stephen Curry at four years, $44 million. What was once seen as an incredible risk, the Curry deal is now one of the biggest bargains in all of sports. Andrew Bogut also signed a three-year, $36 million extension, which isn’t quite the bargain as Curry’s but it was a needed risk given the team’s gaping hole at the position had he left in free agency.
The signing of Carl Landry and trade for Jarrett Jack were solid moves, but both ended up leaving for greener pastures. Many believed Jack could’ve stayed longer, but he opted for a long-term contract. Jack’s departure paved the way for the most questionable of Myers’ moves: Nemanja Nedovic, Toney Douglas, Jordan Crawford and the acquisition of Steve Blake (which cost the team Kent Bazemore).
The adage “no contract is un-tradeable” was reaffirmed when Myers shipped Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and a slew of picks to Utah that eventually landed them swingman Andre Iguodala. Iguodala was another veteran presence in the locker room and more importantly, the ball-handler, slasher and consistent defender the team was missing at the forward spot.
No general manager goes unscathed, but it’s the magnitude of the misses that can make or break a career. When the Los Angeles Clippers matched the offer sheet for DeAndre Jordan, the team traded for Andrew Bogut the following season. After the Steve Blake experiment failed, Shaun Livingston was brought on board. When Kevin Love was on the table, the organization opted to keep the Curry-Thompson backcourt intact (along with signing Thompson long-term).
Myers has been in the unique position to maintain homegrown talent and subsequently, surround them with harmonious players and coaches keen to additional growth. Mark Jackson, for all the problems he caused on and off the floor, did a fine job given the state of the franchise at the time. When the organization saw Jackson as a liability, they parted ways and hired Steve Kerr.
During his press conference Friday afternoon, Myers could barely hold in his emotions. With his voice cracking and tears nearly dropping, Myers thanked everyone from his wife to assistant general managers Travis Schlenk and Kirk Lacob. Myers’ career with the Warriors is still in its infant stages, but he’s already established himself as an integral piece to a championship organization.
“If I can be a part of the success, a small part of getting this team in the right direction and getting us to a place where I hope we’ll always be, that’s something I want to take advantage of,” Myers said Friday.
The success has just begun.