By Ohm Youngmisuk
In the second quarter of Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Stephen Curry found Draymond Green for an open three-pointer, extending the Golden State Warriors` lead to 30-20 and prompting a Minnesota timeout. Before the timeout huddle, Green noticed Curry on the opposite side of the court, struggling with movement. Green, unaware that Curry had just strained his hamstring, went over to check on his teammate.
Curry told Green he`d be back as he walked towards the locker room, but he did not return to the game.
With their star player sidelined, Green immediately took charge. On the next possession, he grabbed a rebound and pushed the ball up the court, sinking another three-pointer seconds later. He hit his fourth three less than a minute later, increasing the Warriors` lead to 14 points by the seven-minute mark of the second quarter.
Green`s impactful shooting silenced the arena, and despite Curry`s absence, the Warriors extended their lead to a maximum of 23 points in the third quarter. They ultimately secured a 99-88 victory, taking an early lead in the series.
At a critical juncture where the team could have faltered without their primary scorer, Green infused them with energy. He was central to a defense that limited Anthony Edwards and held Minnesota to just 88 points. Offensively, he supported Jimmy Butler in orchestrating plays, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. His four made three-pointers were second only to Buddy Hield`s five.
Green has shown improved composure since his difficult Game 6 performance against the Houston Rockets, a performance he found `embarrassing`. His elevated play has been key to Golden State`s recent two-game winning streak. With Curry expected to miss at least through Game 4 due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, Green`s continued high-level performance will be essential, starting with Game 2 on Thursday.
Five nights prior, with the Warriors facing elimination in Houston, the team held a crucial meeting initiated by Curry, Butler, and Green. Green openly shared his feelings with his teammates, a practice he`s developed through therapy. He committed to leading the team with greater poise and setting the right tone for Game 7, a promise he carried into Game 1.
Coach Steve Kerr praised Green, stating, “`He`s our leader.` When he`s playing effectively, as he was in Game 7, he`s incredible to watch. He dominates defensively and plays smart offensively, avoiding turnovers and being in the right positions. The players recognized that after Game 6, we were disorganized.”
Before Game 7, Green needed to recenter himself. Following a challenging Game 6 where he had turnovers and committed a flagrant foul early on, he sought balance. He listened to calming R&B music from the 90s and today.
He also spoke deeply with his closest confidantes: his wife, Hazel Renee, his former Michigan State coach, Tom Izzo, best friend Travis Walton, and his barber. Izzo offered him tough love. Green admitted, “`I spent those two days embarrassed just at what I gave, what I gave to the world. I wanted to come out and prove again just who I am with poise but with the same fire, same tenacity.`”
Green also utilized methods learned from therapy and counseling sessions following his previous suspensions, including spa visits and meditation, to calm himself. When Coach Kerr joined the team meeting, intending to emphasize keys for Game 7 and Green`s leadership role, he found Green had already covered these points. Green joked, “It was like we were an old married couple repeating the same things.”
This partnership with Kerr has resulted in four championships. Kerr has consistently called Green one of the greatest competitors he knows and “the best defender I`ve ever seen in my life.”
At the Game 7 shootaround, Kerr had a lengthy discussion with Green, pointing to the court and sharing stories, reminding Green of his career achievements. Kerr emphasized that the outcome of Game 7 wouldn`t define his legacy and encouraged him to play with poised enjoyment, setting an example for the team.
In the same team meeting, Curry advised the team to focus on controllable factors not reflected in stats. He saw Green`s performance in Game 7 as the perfect example of how the emotional player could handle a physical series while maintaining composure. Curry said, “`No better lesson than [Game 7]… make it about basketball. He doesn`t need to be mute… We wanted that type of [intense] Draymond, but conserve the energy towards us… Even when he had that kind of mix-up with [Fred] VanVleet, he didn`t react… He kept it about basketball.`”
Green understands that everyone will watch how he handles potential confrontations, particularly with Rudy Gobert. He notably drove past Gobert for a dunk earlier in the season, pulling out Curry`s `night night` celebration. Despite this, he generally maintained his cool against Gobert in the regular season. However, his history of technical and flagrant fouls means he`s always close to suspension. As he put it after a Game 4 win, referencing a famous comedy line, “`I`ve always walked that line… That`s who I am. Habitual line-stepper.`”
When Green received a technical foul in Game 7 after contact with Fred VanVleet, teammates and coaches on the bench helped calm him down. Curry shared a prolonged handshake, reinforcing his composure. Playing in a hostile arena where fans chanted against him, Green responded effectively with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, anchoring a defense that limited Houston to 89 points, while minimizing dramatic reactions.
This controlled intensity was exactly what Coach Kerr needed from him.
For Game 2 on Thursday, Green will play a playoff game without Curry for the first time since the 2018 Western Conference semifinals. The Warriors have a winning record (9-3) in playoff games without Curry in the past, but those instances often involved a younger Green, Klay Thompson, a deeper roster, and in six games, Kevin Durant.
Kerr will need Green to take on more playmaking duties, a role Houston tried to disrupt. Green is among an elite group of just eight NBA players with over 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in the playoffs, alongside names like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Magic Johnson.
With Curry out, Green will likely spend time playing point guard to ease ball-handling responsibilities for Jimmy Butler and initiate offensive sets. Kerr`s staff spent time determining the best strategy without Curry. Green acknowledged his four turnovers in Game 1, noting, “`Your margin for error shrinks dramatically without Steph. We`ll see what Coach has in store. I`m not going to come out and be like, `Aw man, I need to be Steph.` I can`t do that. But I may have to handle a little more. Just play my role, honor the game plan that Coach gives us, if that`s me making more plays, I`ll try to do that.`”
After the significant Game 1 victory, Green continued to demonstrate leadership, assuring the team they “`won`t panic,`” even as Curry was seen limping.
His commitment to improved leadership will be more critical than ever.
Following Game 7, Green emphasized the importance of maintaining his composure for his teammates, stating, “`I have to keep it similar for my guys… Forget anybody else [like Gobert]. But for my guys, I need to stay that way, so I`ll be locked in. It`ll be good. But finding that balance, finding that line, not crossing it is important for me and this team, and I gave them my word. I`ll continue to give them my word.`”
