Former Golden State Warriors guard Nick Young relived Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith’s epic NBA Finals blunder in 2018, which turned LeBron James’ Game 1 masterpiece performance into a losing effort. While Warriors’ Draymond Green revealed Kevin Durant’s near-reunion, Young looked back at how big of a threat Golden State considered James to be.

For a moment, he thought Smith did the right thing, and that the joke was on him, Young said, per Gil’s Arena.

“I was confused. The way he looked so confident, I thought they were winning,” Young said. “I knew we was up, but he got the rebound, and he could have easily went back up, but he dribbled out. And that made me look at the clock wrong.”

In a game where James finished with 51 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, Nick Young was relieved that he and the Warriors grabbed the win in the Finals’ opener.

“We felt like we dodged that one,” Young added. “I don’t know if I should say this, but we felt like the Finals were Houston [Rockets], but we knew LeBron [James] could change the series.”

Smith famously forgot the score in crunch time. With 4.7 seconds left and the game tied at 107, the Cavs veteran pulled down Curry’s missed free throw in the paint, and dribbled the ball out instead of going for the win or finding an open teammate. Then, Golden State won 124-114 in overtime.

Article Continues Below
More Warriors News
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center.
Warriors’ Draymond Green shares clear opinion on Kevin Durant’s trade to RocketsRichard Pereira ·
Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum.
Bucks rumors: Will Milwaukee pursue trade for Andrew Wiggins?Julian Ojeda ·
Siegel's Scoop with Jonathan Kuminga, Myles Turner, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Anfernee Simons
Siegel’s Scoop: Latest Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, NBA free agency intelBrett Siegel ·
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) runs down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Paycom Center.
Warriors make $7.9 million Jonathan Kuminga qualifying offerJaren Kawada ·
Mike Dunleavy Jr with a thought bubble over his head. In the thought bubble: draft picks Will Richard and Alex Toohey
Warriors’ Mike Dunleavy Jr. lays out honest 2025 outlook for rookiesKenzo Fukuda ·
Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Jonathan Kumina with "looking" emoji's around them and a big question mark in between them.
Warriors’ Mike Dunleavy Jr. adds to Jonathan Kuminga free-agency mysteryKenzo Fukuda ·

Nick Young and the Warriors would go on to sweep the Cavs 4-0.

Draymond Green reveals Kevin Durant to the Warriors was close

Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center
Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

After the Warriors’ second-round exit, Draymond Green delivered his takes on the playoffs and reflected on his 2024-25 campaign, which nearly saw a Kevin Durant reunion with the Warriors. The Phoenix Suns’ All-Star forward was nearly dealt back to the Bay, where Durant and the Warriors captured back-to-back championships in 2018.

Green says Durant’s return to the Warriors was a deal that was very close to getting done.

“I saw Joe [Lacob]; and Joe gets excited; that’s my guy,” Green said, via Stinar. “Joe goes, ‘Draymond, I think we’re gonna get Kevin Durant; it’s right there at the finish line; it’s happening.’ We’re getting Kevin Durant back… We talk about it, he’s like, You think it’ll work? I’m like, absolutely… He comes running back to me like two minutes later. Draymond, Draymond, I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Don’t say nothing to nobody.”

The Warriors struck a deal with the Heat for Jimmy Butler instead.