Draymond Green Stays in Golden State
Hoops writer Nick Andre takes a look at the potential changes on the horizon for the Golden State Warriors and what that could mean for their defensive anchor.
Major changes are getting ready to take place for the Golden State Warriors after being eliminated in the Play-In Tournament by the Sacramento Kings. We have to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that the Dynasty is over. However, just because it’s the end of an era doesn’t mean that this team can’t remain playoff contenders in the Western Conference.
The first place that everyone is looking to is the end of the Big Three era. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have been through many battles in their 11 seasons together. For the most part, the three found a way to overcome adversity and ultimately won four NBA championships.
Regardless of who’s leaving and who stays, there are two pieces that I believe should remain in Golden State after this season. The first pick is Stephen Curry. At 36 years old, Curry has shown he’s still one of the best players in the NBA. His prolific shooting will seem to last forever as he remains a matchup nightmare on the perimeter. Another piece that should remain is point forward Draymond Green as well, who is under contract for another two seasons.
Yes, I understand everyone’s frustration. This is the same Draymond Green who has been ejected multiple times this past season and placed opposing players in harm’s danger. Nobody is defending Green’s antics that led him to trouble. However, his antics that led to his absence made a huge impact on the team during stretches of the season.
Although the world hates Green’s unnecessary antics, people also love the passion he shows when he steps out on the court. During the Warriors’ Dynasty run, Draymond Green was fire to Stephen Curry’s ice. His fire and commitment to win played a huge role in why the team clinched four championships in eight years.
Losing Draymond Green means that the Warriors will miss a vocal leader, defensive anchor, and playmaker on the offensive end. On Tuesday, the Warriors took a gruesome 118–94 loss to the Kings. However, there were a couple of things that stood out in that game. Draymond Green continued to do a great job of setting the table for his teammates. He found open players off backdoor cuts as well as coming off stagger screens. Green’s playmaking has been able to make the game easier for guys like Stephen Curry to be effective off the ball and torch the defense with his movement.
As far as leadership, Draymond Green has continued to show that aspect both on and off the court. I’m sure many NBA fans have listened to at least five minutes of his Podcast “The Draymond Green Show”. Long story short, Green has a very high IQ for the game. He’s made sure to spread that knowledge in the locker room with his team. Green’s leadership has played a role in the elevation of several young players like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and others.
Of course, the defensive end has always been Draymond Green’s bread and butter. He reads the team’s half-court offense very well and understands how to position himself well on the defensive end. Throughout the years, Green providing a defensive identity has made the Warriors a dangerous team. Because of it, he’s been awarded a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017 as well as being elected All-Defensive First Team multiple times.
Great teams always have to make roster adjustments to regroup as contenders. However, certain things cannot be replaced. There isn’t another player in the NBA who can replace Draymond Green and fill his role with the Golden State Warriors. Yes, he’s getting older. Yes, he needs to stop his antics on the court. However, his impact is felt when he isn’t on the court and helping the Warriors be effective.
