Another Golden State Warriors title is disheartening, at least to teams that look at the Warriors' $170.3 million tax bill for the 2021-22 season and think, "I can't compete with that."

Now, the franchise is doubling down with extensions for Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. Golden State's payroll could reach the $400-500 million range for the 2023-24 season. There's just no way for the majority of teams in the league to match that.

Most don't have anything close to the operating income needed to keep up with the Warriors' massive spending power. That gap is a widespread concern as the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have already begun negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

A primary goal of the CBA is to give every team the opportunity to win, regardless of market size. Some franchises will push for new rules, harsher tax penalties and stricter spending limits. But is that necessary?

Recency bias may scream the Warriors are buying titles—that the system is broken. The actual history, dating back to the adoption of the 2017 CBA, tells a different story. Heavy spenders reach the NBA Finals about as often as the more conservative teams.

Not Every NBA Champion Spent Excessively

Four teams have won titles over the last five years. The Warriors have two of them, but the smaller-market Milwaukee Bucks paid out under $800,000 in penalties for their title. The Los Angeles Lakers are in a top media market and a willing spender, but even they were under the tax in their championship run (2019-20).

The past five champions were charged the following in luxury taxes:

2017-18: Golden State Warriors—$32,263,299

2018-19: Toronto Raptors—$25,190,963

2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers—$0

2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks—$794,721

2021-22: Golden State Warriors—$170,331,194

Yes, the Warriors are massive spenders. Yet their first spending spree came at the end of the Kevin Durant era, when broadcast revenue spiked in 2016. Adding Durant to a team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green was going to be a problem for any teams that tried to outspend the Warriors, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.