During the 1995 to 1996 NBA season, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to the greatest regular-season record in the history of professional basketball. During that season, which ultimately resulted in Jordan’s fourth championship in six years, the Bulls breezed their way to a 72-10 mark, resulting in the justified assertion that Jordan’s Bulls team was the greatest of all time. However, the Bulls’ place as the greatest ever is being aggressively challenged by the 2015 to 2016 Golden State Warriors. 

The Warriors are on pace to break the Bulls single-season win record and are dominating the NBA in a similarly dazzling fashion. Led by reigning MVP Stephen Curry, the Warriors quickly laid to rest concerns over the infamous “championship hangover,” which has historically led defending champions into slumps of apathy and underperformance in the early stages of a post-championship season. The Warriors raced out to a 24-0 start, squashing subpar opponents and holding their own against the N.B.A.’s elites. Since that historic winning streak, the Warriors have dropped only two games — the team’s first loss of the season came on the second night of a back-to-back, and its second loss was largely the result of Curry’s absence due to injury. As of Sunday, the Warriors sit atop the league standings with a 35-2 record, including a 17-0 mark at home in Oracle Arena. 

It is reasonable to wonder how the Warriors have sustained the historic success they have enjoyed since the season began in late October. Upon analysis of the Warrior’s individual and team statistics, it becomes clear that everything begins and ends with Curry. Curry leads the league in scoring, averaging 29.5 points per game. Even more impressive, Curry is doing so while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from the three-point line. If he sustains this efficient scoring barrage, Curry will easily eclipse the previous record for three-point field goals attempted and made in a single season, which he himself set during the 2014 to 2015 season. 

While Curry’s importance cannot be overstated, the Warriors achievements can by no means be attributed solely to the reigning MVP. One of the most critical factors in Golden State’s historically impressive start has been the emergence of third-year forward Draymond Green. While Green made strides in his on-court play during the Warrior’s championship run last season, he has emerged this year as a legitimate nightly triple-double threat. With averages of 15.0 points-per-game, 9.6 rebounds-per-game and 7.4 assists-per-game, Green has spectators believing that he has the potential to one day average a triple-double — something only Oscar Robertson has achieved in NBA history. 

Finally, while fourth-year guard Klay Thompson got off to a slow start to begin the season, his play in January has all indications pointing to a strong finish. In the month of January, Thompson has averaged 28.6 points-per-game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Additionally, Thompson has regained his deadly touch from the 3-point line, shooting 44.0% from deep since the new year began. Though Thompson’s slow start led some to believe that he would take a step back this season, his improved play of late has laid to rest whatever doubts his detractors may have had in the months leading up to January. 

Curry’s improvement, as well as Green’s meteoric rise and Thompson’s gradually increasing efficiency, has resulted in a Warriors squad that seems to be just as, if not more, dominant than Jordan’s 1996 Bulls. With the league’s best offense, one of the NBA’s deepest benches and a trio of stars in Curry, Green and Thompson, the Warriors appear to possess what could be the makings of the next great NBA dynasty.