The Golden State Warriors are NBA champions for the second time in three years. Their 67-15 regular season record – tied for the seventh-best winning percentage in NBA history – concluded with a 16-1 march through the playoffs, the best postseason performance the NBA has ever seen.
With a roster that boasts a collective three MVP awards, 20 All-Star appearances and five Olympic gold medals, the Warriors are stocked with enough talent to compete with the best teams in league history. Using WhatIfSports.com’s NBA simulation engine, we put the Warriors to the test against the last 25 champions to see how they fared. Every team in the round-robin tournament played every other team 51 times. Check out the results:
| 2016-17 Golden State Warriors vs. Last 25 NBA Champions | ||||
| Rank | Team | Win % | PF | PA |
| 1 | 2016-17 Golden State Warriors | 75.5 | 106.0 | 99.8 |
| 2 | 1995-96 Chicago Bulls | 67.8 | 99.4 | 97.4 |
| 3 | 2014-15 Golden State Warriors | 65.9 | 101.4 | 96.6 |
| 4 | 2012-13 Miami Heat | 63.3 | 99.6 | 95.1 |
| 5 | 1996-97 Chicago Bulls | 57.4 | 95.8 | 97.8 |
| 6 | 1991-92 Chicago Bulls | 56.9 | 101.2 | 97.2 |
| 7 | 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs | 55.7 | 99.5 | 102.4 |
| 8 | 2006-07 San Antonio Spurs | 55.6 | 95.8 | 103.5 |
| 9 | 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers | 53.8 | 99.9 | 96.6 |
| 10 | 2007-08 Boston Celtics | 53.3 | 95.3 | 98.0 |
| 11 | 1994-95 Houston Rockets | 51.6 | 102.0 | 97.1 |
| 12 | 1992-93 Chicago Bulls | 50.6 | 98.5 | 95.9 |
| 13 | 2004-05 San Antonio Spurs | 49.6 | 93.3 | 97.7 |
| 14 | 2011-12 Miami Heat | 49.1 | 95.7 | 98.6 |
| 15 | 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers | 45.8 | 97.2 | 98.0 |
| 16 | 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers | 45.2 | 100.8 | 101.0 |
| 17 | 2005-06 Miami Heat | 45.2 | 98.6 | 97.1 |
| 18 | 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers | 44.9 | 95.4 | 97.7 |
| 19 | 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers | 44.4 | 98.2 | 96.3 |
| 20 | 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks | 42.5 | 98.3 | 93.1 |
| 21 | 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs | 41.9 | 92.0 | 99.3 |
| 22 | 1997-98 Chicago Bulls | 39.6 | 92.1 | 96.0 |
| 23 | 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers | 39.4 | 94.0 | 97.3 |
| 24 | 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs | 38.4 | 91.0 | 96.8 |
| 25 | 1993-94 Houston Rockets | 36.0 | 95.8 | 101.2 |
| 26 | 2003-04 Detroit Pistons | 30.8 | 90.3 | 100.2 |
Golden State claimed the best record in the simulation, and it wasn’t particularly close. The Warriors came out on top in 75.5 percent of contests and averaged a simulation-best 106.0 points per game. The Warriors ranked 11th in points allowed, holding opponents to 96.5 points per game.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls finished runner-up with a 67.8 winning percentage. Two more Bulls teams, the 1996-97 and 1991-92 squads, finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Golden State’s 2015 championship team came in third place, while the 2012-13 Miami Heat were fourth.
