Dub Nation Rewind: Episode 1 of First in 40 Officially Launches, Taking Fans Deep Inside the Unforgettable Journey of the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors Championship Season.
Dub Nation is in for a treat, as Episode 1 of First in 40: The Story of the 2014–15 Warriors has officially gone live, launching a much-anticipated deep dive into one of the most revolutionary seasons in modern basketball history. For fans of the Golden State Warriors and basketball historians alike, this docuseries is more than just nostalgia—it’s a masterfully crafted look at the moments, decisions, and personalities that shaped a team on the cusp of greatness into an all-time juggernaut.
The title First in 40 alludes to the Warriors’ first NBA Championship in 40 years, a drought that had tested the patience and loyalty of fans across generations. The 2014–15 season didn’t just bring hardware back to the Bay—it rewrote the blueprint of how championship basketball could be played in the modern era. Episode 1 sets the tone by grounding the audience in the context that preceded the explosion. Before Steph Curry’s MVP campaign and before the Warriors became a dynasty, there was uncertainty, rebuilding, and skepticism.
The episode opens with footage from the early 2000s, showing a team struggling to find identity and consistency. The Warriors were, for many years, the NBA’s lovable underdog—flashes of excitement but always a step behind the true contenders. The “We Believe” team of 2007 had injected some much-needed electricity into the franchise, but it was fleeting. What followed was years of mediocrity, missed draft picks, and unfulfilled potential. But buried within that chaos were the seeds of a revolution.
As the episode transitions into the early 2010s, viewers are reintroduced to a baby-faced Stephen Curry, who—despite being drafted in 2009—had yet to fully establish himself as a superstar due to recurring ankle injuries and a team in flux. Episode 1 spends considerable time unpacking Curry’s transformation, not just as a player, but as a leader. Through interviews with teammates, coaches, front-office staff, and Curry himself, the documentary offers an intimate look at the internal doubts he faced and the perseverance that fueled his ascent. There’s special attention given to his development in the offseason before the 2014–15 campaign, where he quietly refined his game while the basketball world remained focused on bigger names.
But First in 40 is far from a one-man show. Episode 1 carefully introduces the critical components that would become synonymous with the Warriors’ identity—Klay Thompson’s calm killer instinct, Draymond Green’s fiery competitiveness, and the often-underrated influence of Andre Iguodala. What makes the episode particularly compelling is the way it paints these figures not as instant stars, but as players who grew into their roles, sometimes reluctantly, sometimes defiantly, always together. The viewer is reminded that the championship DNA wasn’t gifted to the team—it was built brick by brick.
The installment also dives into the pivotal decision to fire head coach Mark Jackson following the 2013–14 season. Jackson, who had helped stabilize the team and brought a defensive mindset, was beloved by players but often clashed with management. The episode doesn’t shy away from the controversy, offering multiple perspectives on what led to the change. Ultimately, it tees up the arrival of Steve Kerr, a rookie head coach whose fresh ideas would ignite the Warriors’ untapped potential.
Episode 1 introduces Kerr not as a savior but as a bold thinker—someone who challenged conventions and believed that the Warriors could thrive by playing a different kind of basketball. His philosophies on ball movement, spacing, and defensive versatility would soon become hallmarks of the team’s style. Interviews with Kerr reveal a coach who was not only tactically gifted but also emotionally intelligent, capable of navigating the egos and expectations that come with elite talent.
The episode doesn’t just focus on X’s and O’s, though. It captures the soul of Dub Nation—the community of fans who stuck by the team through decades of irrelevance and heartbreak. Archival footage of Oracle Arena in its raucous glory serves as a reminder of how connected the fanbase was to the team’s journey. Longtime fans speak about what the team meant to them, and the way the 2014–15 season felt different from the outset—not because of hype, but because of hope.
We also get a glimpse into the front office’s vision. General Manager Bob Myers and team owner Joe Lacob are featured prominently, each discussing the calculated risks and philosophical shifts that helped reshape the roster. The drafting of Curry, the selection of Draymond Green in the second round, and the decision to bring in veterans like Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa are presented not just as smart moves but as critical puzzle pieces in a larger strategic framework.
Stylistically, the documentary uses a mix of behind-the-scenes footage, on-court highlights, and cinematic recreations to tell its story. The narration is subtle but powerful, weaving together the perspectives of players, coaches, fans, and analysts in a way that feels authentic and emotionally resonant. Episode 1 doesn’t rush to the action—it savors the buildup, ensuring viewers understand the emotional weight of what’s to come.
In terms of storytelling, First in 40 succeeds in balancing nostalgia with analysis. It invites longtime fans to relive unforgettable moments while educating newer fans about the nuances that made the Warriors’ rise so extraordinary. It’s not just a highlight reel—it’s a lesson in team building, adaptation, and belief. The first episode sets a high bar for the rest of the series, and if early reactions are any indication, this project may go down as one of the definitive documentaries on the modern NBA.
There’s also something deeply human about the way the Warriors are portrayed. Their journey isn’t sanitized or overly romanticized. Instead, the episode leans into the vulnerability of the process—the doubts Curry had about his durability, the criticism Draymond faced for being undersized, and the uncertainty that came with changing leadership. These aren’t just basketball stories; they’re life stories. And that’s what makes Episode 1 so compelling—it reminds you that greatness isn’t born overnight, but rather forged through adversity, experimentation, and unwavering belief.
In today’s NBA landscape, where superteams form and dissolve within a few seasons, the 2014–15 Warriors stand as a beacon of what can happen when a team grows organically, believes in its identity, and embraces innovation. First in 40 captures that ethos perfectly. Episode 1 leaves you inspired, not just because of what the team achieved, but because of how they did it—together, against the odds, and with a style that made the basketball world stop and watch.
For Dub Nation, this documentary isn’t just a trip down memory lane. It’s a celebration of resilience, vision, and community. And for the broader basketball audience, it’s a reminder that sometimes the game’s most important stories don’t come from the biggest markets or the loudest headlines, but from the teams that dared to be different.
With Episode 1 now live, the stage is set for what promises to be a riveting chronicle of one of the greatest sports transformations in recent memory. Whether you lived through the season or are discovering it for the first time, First in 40 delivers a front-row seat to the moment everything changed—not just for the Warriors, but for the game of basketball itself.