Teams Copy Warriors Without the Shooters

Shaquille O'Neal argues NBA teams are imitating Golden State's style without the elite three-point shooters that made it work.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball

Teams Copy Warriors Without the Shooters

Shaquille O'Neal said NBA teams are copying the Golden State Warriors' spacing, ball movement and heavy diet of threes, but without the shooters who made that approach effective. He pointed to Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as the true shooters behind the Warriors' success.

Why it matters

Many teams that have tried to replicate Golden State's style are built around players who are not skilled shooters, which O'Neal suggests undermines the approach. The critique highlights how a successful system can be difficult to transplant without the personnel that defined it.

Curry, the NBA's all-time leader in made threes, has a career three-point percentage a little above 42 percent, while Durant's is nearer 39 percent. Teams trying to copy Golden State's approach have not been shown to match those marks, and the source does not quantify the gap league-wide.

The players

Shaquille O'Neal

A Hall of Fame center and longtime NBA analyst known for his outspoken commentary on the league's style of play.

Golden State Warriors

An NBA franchise that won multiple championships in the 2010s with a pace-and-space offense built on three-point shooting.

The details

O'Neal said teams have borrowed Golden State's spacing, ball movement and volume of threes without the shooting talent that made the system work. He contrasted the Warriors' shooters, including Durant, Curry and Thompson, with players he says lack that skill.

2016: Kevin Durant joins the Golden State Warriors.
2017: Golden State wins the NBA championship.
2018: Golden State wins the NBA championship.
2019: Durant leaves Golden State for Brooklyn.

Season Trajectory

The Warriors' run of titles in 2017 and 2018 set off a league-wide shift toward three-point volume, and O'Neal's critique suggests that many teams have adopted the look without the personnel. That gap may shape how front offices build rosters in the seasons ahead.

For fantasy managers, the argument suggests that high-volume three-point shooters on teams copying Golden State may be overvalued if they lack the efficiency of Curry or Durant. Roster and rotation decisions tied to shooting volume may matter more than the team's offensive scheme alone.

The takeaway

Offensive schemes are easiest to copy on paper, but their results depend heavily on the shooting talent that executes them. Evaluating a team's three-point approach means looking at accuracy as well as attempts.