My Picks: Top Three Pro Sports Dynasties of the Past Decade

Golden State is my #1 hands-down pick.

3. San Francisco Giants (2010-14)

Courtesy: ESPN

The Giants are the only dynasty on this list that were (well) not actually dominant. They averaged 87 wins per season in those five years, and, in the interregnum season of 2013, they finished 4th in the NL West with a 76-86 record. They also just barely snuck into the playoffs in 2014, earning a Wild Card berth.

Nevertheless, the Giants managed to win a championship every even year in this stretch. Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner were the team leaders, and the supporting cast was equally strong. Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Pablo Sandoval were mainstays. Posey won the team’s only MVP award of the decade in 2012, and Bumgarner became known as an all-time great for his postseason prowess.

2. New England Patriots (2014-18)

Courtesy: Jackson Progress-Argus

Yes, if you go back further–to the beginning of the Belichick and Brady era–the Patriots would be #1 on my list. But it’s also important to point out that the Pats had a dry spell from 2005 to 2014.

Then, starting with the 2014-15 campaign, New England averaged 12 wins per season and won three Super Bowls in four tries. They won the AFC East each of those five seasons, and never had to play a game in the Wild Card-round.

What’s more, those teams triumphed against teams with incredible quarterbacks. They defeated a young Russell Wilson, fresh off of his first SB win. After that, they erased a 28-3 deficit against MVP Matt Ryan. Finally, they took care of Jared Goff, who was coming off a 4700 yard-32 TD season.

1. Golden State Warriors (2014-18)

Courtesy: Sports Illustrated

The greatest dynasty took place over the same 5-year span. The Warriors averaged 64 wins per season and made the NBA Finals in each season. In the first matchup with Cleveland in 2014-15, the Warriors dispatched Lebron and his teammates in six games and went 16-5 overall in the playoffs that season.

Then they got even better. GSW followed up the first championship in the Kerr/Curry era with a record-breaking 73-9 season. Of course, that performance led to the infamous blown 3-1 lead. But true dynasties are also dominant in the regular season. In this case, Curry won his first of consecutive MVP awards, and they erased that 3-1 deficit against OKC.

A certain 7-foot lanky sniper joined the ensuing season, and once KD came on board, the Warriors had four all-stars. They ho-hummed their way to a 16-1 playoff record. Golden State would repeat the season after, officially claiming the 4-game series from LeBron and the Cavaliers. They likely would have won another last season had it not been for injuries to Durant and Klay.

The Warriors changed the game of basketball. Hail, Golden State!