Famous FC Barcelona Tactic Influenced Warriors, Steph Curry Says
The Golden State Warriors have risen to become a modern basketball dynasty, led by star player Stephen Curry. The team secured NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, proving nearly unstoppable when performing at their peak.
Steve Kerr’s Coaching Inspired by FC Barcelona
Steph Curry credits much of the Warriors' success to head coach Steve Kerr, who joined the team in 2014. Kerr implemented subtle changes that shaped their offensive style, drawing inspiration from the tiki-taka strategy used by Pep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona football team. This approach emphasizes rapid ball movement and fluid player positioning to create scoring opportunities.
"He was like, 'I just wanna make a couple of tweaks to the way that we're creating shots,'" Curry explained on the Mind the Game podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash.
"Once we got in training camp, he showed a clip of Barcelona tiki-taka, and he was talking about that as a philosophy of how we're gonna create shots, how we're gonna keep things simple, make the defense have to make a million decisions in a possession, so that you can find the right shot,"
"It took a minute to be comfortable with not calling a play and just letting the ball kind of dictate where you're supposed to be."
The Tactical Shift Leading to Success
- The Warriors adapted by letting the ball dictate the game flow rather than relying on set plays.
- This continuous movement forced opposing defenses into tough decision-making situations.
- The philosophy created open shots by emphasizing teamwork and fluidity instead of rigid structures.
By blending basketball with football tactics, Kerr helped the Warriors develop a unique style that revolutionized their offense and contributed significantly to their championship runs.
Summary: Steve Kerr revolutionized the Warriors’ offense by adapting FC Barcelona’s tiki-taka style, promoting fluid ball movement and decision-making to create effective scoring opportunities.