Stephen A. Smith: 'The Golden State Warriors are going to repeat as NBA champions'

Jun 16, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and guard Klay Thompson (11) celebrate after beating the Boston Celtics in game six of the 2022 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at TD Garden. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen A. Smith: 'Nobody is beating the Warriors. The Golden State Warriors are going to repeat as NBA champions'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 8/23/22

The start of the 2022-2023 NBA season is still nearly two months away, but ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith apparently already thinks next year's title winner has been decided.

"They ain't beating the Warriors. Nobody is beating the Warriors. The Golden State Warriors are going to repeat as NBA champions. Back-to-back!"

— @stephenasmith on what KD being on the Grizzlies would mean#NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/Yi4FKPbJJE
— ’ (@_Talkin_NBA) August 23, 2022

Coming off their six-game NBA Finals victory over the Boston Celtics at the end of the spring, the Warriors have added Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green via free agency this offseason (and re-signed Kevon Looney), but lost the likes of key contributors off the bench in Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr.

In early August, a panel of ESPN insiders ranked their projected top finishers in the East and West for the upcoming campaign. Golden State was picked as the favorite in the West (and favorite to repeat as title winners).

The Dubs open up the regular season against the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET on Oct. 18.

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