After hearing a provocative statement from NBA star Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green couldn’t hold back and subtly took aim at his former teammate.
Though it has been several years since Durant and Green shared the court with the Warriors, the duo helped the team capture two championships, with Durant earning consecutive Finals MVP honors. While he hasn’t achieved much postseason success since leaving Golden State, there’s no question Durant remains one of the premier scorers of the modern era.
Durant’s passion for scoring was evident in his comments, suggesting that anyone can play defense, but elite offensive talent is much rarer and more valuable. Considering that Green built his reputation as the Warriors’ defensive anchor and enforcer, it’s worth wondering how he reacted to Durant’s remarks.
Draymond Green Throws Shade at Kevin Durant
Since leaving the Warriors, Durant has maintained friendly relations with most of his former teammates. Still, some tension clearly lingers between him and Green.
This was made clear after Durant’s comments prioritizing offense over defense reached Green. The four-time NBA champion took an open shot at his teammate when challenging Durant’s claim that offense wins championships.
Draymond Green fires back at Kevin Durant’s claim that offense wins championships 👀
Draymond: “Those who don’t believe defense is as valuable as it is, they simply just don’t win. I don’t think anyone’s ever really been hell-bent on caring about the opinion of those that don’t… pic.twitter.com/kOHSEqiHcU
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 4, 2025
“Those who don’t believe defense is as valuable as it is, they simply just don’t win. I don’t think anyone’s ever really been hell-bent on caring about the opinion of those that don’t win, because your opinion equals zero.”
Green wrapped up his response by emphasizing that the Warriors’ defense was elite during their multiple NBA Finals appearances. He also argued that the same top-tier defense was a key factor in establishing the Warriors as a championship dynasty.
Looking ahead, Green and Durant will meet several times this season, as the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are both contending for a title. Interestingly, Durant’s Rockets rank seventh in defensive rating through six games, slightly ahead of the Warriors, who sit 10th.
The Rockets and Warriors are set to face each other three times this season, with their first matchup scheduled for Nov. 26 in Golden State. Houston will host the Warriors on March 5 for the second meeting, and the regular-season series will conclude on April 5, once again in Golden State.