At the end of the play-in tournament, it appeared everything was coming to a head for the Golden State Warriors. After their dynastic run, the last four years hadn’t been a shining example, prompting a possible major head coaching change.
Now, with Steve Kerr likely on his way out, adulation for his work is pouring in. However, for Draymond Green, their 12-year partnership hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.
Draymond Green Stung by Steve Kerr
Drafted with the 35th overall pick in 2012, Green spent the first two years of his career primarily as a bench piece, averaging less than 20 minutes per game. However, upon Kerr’s arrival, he developed into an invaluable part of the lineup.
Having operated as a permanent starter for the Warriors ever since, Green was a foundational piece of the dynasty that went to six NBA Finals and won four championships. During that timeframe, he also built an impeccable individual résumé.
A four-time All-Star, nine-time All-Defensive selectee, and a Defensive Player of the Year winner, he became the backbone of their success and the key piece to unlocking the “small-ball” lineup that put Golden State ahead of the curve.
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Now that their time together is seemingly coming to an end, Green had some words for his longtime coach. On the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” he revealed the biggest problem he had with Kerr during their time together.
“A part of me thinks he’s hindered me in my career and what I could’ve become,” Green began. “… When KD came, from 2016 on, I have not had a play in our playbook. Not a single play that we run for me in our playbook. This is 2016. … But if you’re going to take one gripe and not be able to move past it for all the other things, then you’re shallow as a person.”
However, even with that caveat, Green isn’t willing to trade his time with Kerr for anything.
“What he’s meant to me in my life, what he’s taught me in my life, the things that he’s taught me about being a winner, it’s so important to who I’ve become,” Green admitted.
That mentality has directly led to one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history and the ushering in of the 3-point revolution. Still, after failing to make the playoffs this season, most signs point to Kerr’s time with the Warriors coming to an end.
