Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green is 30 years old and he's not thinking about the end of his NBA career yet.
“I still think I got a lot of basketball left,” Green said on Saturday, via Drew Shiller of Warriors Outsiders. “Not the veteran on the way out.”
Green signed a four-year, $99.6 million extension in Aug. 2019 with the Warriors. The deal includes a $27.5 million player option in 2023-24.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2014-15, Green has averaged 10.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game for the Dubs, playing key leadership and defensive roles for three championship-winning squads. He's been selected to three All-Star teams and five All-Defensive teams in his career. He was also named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
In 2019-20, Green averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists for a depleted Warriors squad that went 15-50 after five straight trips to the NBA Finals.
He's yet to play in 2020-21 as he recovers from a foot injury.
The Warriors have clearly missed his presence so far this season as the Dubs have lost their first two contests — to the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks — by 65 combined points.
Green is expected to make his season debut on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
“It’ll obviously help,” Stephen Curry said about Green’s return to action, per NBC Sports' Monte Pool. “In terms of having a high basketball IQ and the way that Draymond can control a possession and try to make the right pass or putting pressure on guys guarding him.”
Green was drafted out of Michigan State in the second round (no. 35 overall) of the 2008 draft. At some point, at least five years after he does hang it up, he'll likely enter the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Follow Us
Subscribe