There was a lot of drama surrounding Draymond Green last season, but the Golden State Warriors still believe he’s too valuable to give up.
After Green opted out of the final year of his contract, he reportedly signed a new four-year deal worth $100 million.
The 33-year-old Green was originally owed $27.6 million for the final year of his contract, but he opted out earlier this month. But it was a formality, and he shouldn’t be surprised that he stays with Golden State.
The Warriors selected Green in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He became a four-time All-Star and an eight-time All-Defensive First-team selection while playing alongside Stephen CurryKlay Thompson and, briefly, Kevin Durant.
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Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors during a game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on March 20, 2023 in Houston. (Alex Bierens deHaan/Getty Images)
Green came under fire at the start of the 2022-23 season when he punched teammate Jordan Poole in the face during practice. The incident, Green admits, contributed to his early exit from the NBA playoffs.
«I absolutely do, because I still think the fact is it’s going to be tough, I really don’t think anybody can beat us,» Green said in an interview with ESPN. «I know we just lost. I’m not taking anything away from the Los Angeles Lakers. They’re competing at a high level, they’re a good team.»
Green admitted after the incident that there was «five months of … slippage» in the locker room and believes the Warriors would have made it to the Western Conference finals if he hadn’t hit Poole, who has since been traded.
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals at the Chase Center on May 10, 2023 in San Francisco. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
«We’d still be playing,» he said during the playoffs. «I’m aware that Jordan struggled a little bit at times this year. I understand that. And if he hadn’t done that, the relationship we had, I could have been there for him. I could have helped him through that.» [I] He wasn’t necessarily able to do that once it all happened.»
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Head coach Steve Kerr also said there were trust issues within the team after the incident.
«Some of that was lost this year for sure. There’s no hiding it.» he said. «The incident with Draymond and Jordan earlier in the year played a part in that. It’s hard for that not to affect a team…
Draymond Green, left, and Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors speak during Game 4 of the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2022 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
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«Any time some trust is lost, it makes the process much more difficult, and some trust was lost. That’s about as direct as I can be. The only way to try to course correct is to continue to communicate with players and coaches. , and those relationships have to be built.
«Ties have to be built. I think that’s a big focus for us this offseason. We’ve got to get back to what’s made us really successful, which is a really trusting environment and a group that trusts each other and grows stronger. mutually better.»
Green is entering his 12th NBA season.