Warriors forward Draymond Green, 33, was suspended indefinitely after hitting center Jusuf Nurkic in the face in a game with Phoenix on Dec. 12. The Golden State Warriors veteran said he just ignored his opponent as he pulled on his hip and that he didn’t plan on hitting him. However, as a result of the episode, Green was immediately ejected from the court for a second-degree unsportsmanlike foul.
He recently started working with a psychologist and, according to internal sources, will return to the site no sooner than in a few weeks. Meanwhile, Golden State continues its winning streak: for the first time since October, the team won three games in a row. Are these two events related in any way?
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Yesterday, December 20, the Warriors came back from -17 and achieved a resounding victory over Boston, breaking the streak of the best team in the Eastern Conference. Stephen Curry played the entire fourth quarter, being one step away from fouling, scoring 13 points and also hitting a step-back three-pointer, which tied the score and sent the game to overtime. In overtime, he scored seven of the Dubs’ 11 points, and in 10 seconds he sent another crucial three-pointer into the rival basket, after which he sent the Celtics to sleep with the corresponding gesture. Well, Draymond saw it all on television.
And from a purely statistical standpoint, Golden State looks a little better without Green than with him. This especially applies to Stephen Curry. He and Draymond played 369 minutes together during the current regular season. When they were on the court, the Warriors had a net rating of -5.7, an offensive rating of 115 points per 100 possessions and a defensive rating of 120. And when Steph played without Green (102 minutes), the net rating improved to “+ 11”, attack rating – up to 123.6 points and defensive rating – up to 112.6.
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green
Photo: Nic Antaya/Getty Images
If we look at the numbers not within a specific season, but over the entire 12 years these two spent on the same team, there were only 69 games in which Curry played and Dray did not. At the same time, the Warriors, together with Steph, won in 62.3% of them (43). But in Green’s case the situation is the opposite. Of the 115 games in which he appeared on the court without a star teammate, only 38.3% (44) ended in victory.
Of course, there were also cases when Draymond greatly contributed to the success of his eminent comrade. For example, when Curry scored 47 points against Washington at the end of the 2021/2022 championship season, 41 of them (i.e. 87%) came in the 15 minutes Green was on the court. In 20 minutes without him, Stephen scored just six points.
At the same time, Curry’s career statistics in games played without Green also seem a little worse than in games with him. But this difference is so insignificant that we can safely say that Stephen would have achieved success with the Warriors without Dray.
Draymon GreenMatchesGlassesReboundsTransfersField AccuracyAccuracy behind the arcLossesPresent65826.54.96.78.9 out of 18.8 (47.5%)4.3 out of 10.1 (42.8%)3.2 Absent6926.05.06.18.7 out of 18.4 (47%)4.2 out of 10.6 (40.2%)3.4
Stephen Curry career stats with and without Draymond Green
However, Curry is still one of the most talented basketball players in the modern NBA and doesn’t really depend on anyone. Therefore, individual-level comparisons here will of course not do Green’s favor. But if we consider the entire team, then with him the Warriors have a much better balance than without him: 67% (518 of 773) versus 51% (66 of 129). Playmaking, high basketball IQ, and defensive and rebounding quality make Green one of Golden State’s key players.
“Draymond has a lot to do with our results. I’ve said for years that without Draymond we wouldn’t have had any championships, and I believe that with all my heart. We had talented teams, but Draymond is our defensive strength, he brings excitement and intensity. Our team just has a different mentality with him. He takes us to the top. He is a very strong figure and he knows it,” said coach Steve Kerr.
A similar opinion is shared by another member of the team’s “Big Trio”, Klay Thompson:
“I don’t think Steph and I would have been as successful. [без Грина]. Since Steph and I are the “good guys,” we wouldn’t have that intimidation factor or whatever you want to call it. Draymond was ready from the moment he joined the team and found himself in the starting five. He may not be the most skilled player in the league, but he will do whatever it takes to win the game. He will irritate opponents, dive for the loose ball and create open shots for us. “I have a lot of respect for Draymond.”
Klay Thompson and Draymond Green
Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
You know what else makes Green an important figure in Golden State? His relationship with Stephen Curry. The two are inseparable friends off the court. And this is one of the main reasons why Dray stayed on the team despite 19 suspensions, a disqualification in the 2016 finals, a fight with Jordan Poole and the list goes on.
Bob Myers, who spent 12 years as the Warriors’ general manager, noted that Steph’s word carries more weight behind closed doors than anyone else’s. It’s no surprise that Green received a $100 million contract immediately after the free agent market opened last summer, allowing him to remain on the team alongside Curry through 2026.
At the moment, Bob Myers is completely immersed in television: he now appears on screens as an analyst, in particular on ESPN.
But now that Green has earned three ejections and two serious suspensions in two months, not even Curry is happy. At the press conference, where he was asked about everything that happened, Stephen seemed a little upset and struggled to find the right words.
“We always told him that you can’t change who you are as a player, your competitive attitude, the physical strength you play with. But you can’t give people a reason to walk away and look at you a certain way and judge you based on every incident that happens.
Draymond Green and Stephen Curry
Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
So it’s difficult. We need it and obviously the expulsion affected the course of the match and our emotions. This will be a test for him. We are here to support you. We are here to believe in him and that he can do it. And yes, we certainly need it to win this battle,” he stated.
And while Greene battles his inner demons, his team seems pretty convincing. Klay Thompson has finally come to his senses, scoring at least 24 points in each of the last four games. Steve Kerr had the opportunity to distribute the 30 minutes Green received among other players desperate for playing time. Chris Paul and Jonathan Kuminga started playing an average of five minutes longer. Rookie Trace Jackson Davis played 20+ for the first time, while another rookie, Brandin Podziemski, consistently spends half an hour on the court.
Bold preliminary results:
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At the same time, Green’s suspension is a real opportunity for him to address whatever issues his on-court aggression is causing. Everyone in the NBA believes that a short break will do him good. And if Draymond can still slow down his heat while still having a serious defensive impact on the game, then he simply won’t be worth it. Let’s hope he’s really working on it.
So far, it turns out that everyone has benefited from Green’s disqualification. Does this mean it’s time for the team to say goodbye to the player? Probably not. A trade is unlikely, although there is still interest from Dallas and the Lakers. If we can see any obvious changes in Draymond’s character, then Golden State will likely forgive him for these transgressions. But how long will management’s patience last? And most importantly, Steph Curry?
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THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS