Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green saw his role change significantly in the 2019-20 NBA regular season. With fellow All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson out to injuries, the 6-foot-6 slotman had to become an elder statesman to the team's current crop of young and unproven talent.
The three-time NBA champ recently opened up accepting the challenge, per a CBSN Bay Area report.
“I had to find little challenges within the challenge. I went from the young guy to the super vet on the team,” Green said.
“And so for me, my whole mindset [going] into this season was how can I help these young guys get better? How can I help them improve? How can I help get these guys set up to make the money they want to make in this league? And so that was kind of my focus,”
The Warriors' one-time Defensive Player of the Year also addressed some of his detractors, who continually pinpoint his low scoring output while “The Splash Brothers” are out of the line-up.
“I can go out and try to score 20 a game. That’s what the world wanted me to do. I really didn’t give a… . That’s not who I was going to be for this team. So just because the world wants me to go try to do that, I’m not gonna do that. I’m gonna be who I am and try to help these young guys. If we win, great. If we don’t, who cares? We don’t win for a year, it is what it is. So my whole focus was just trying to be a mentor and teach these young guys,” Green furthered.
The Warriors' once-great dynasty crumbled to its lowest point this season, following the injuries to Curry and Thompson and the departure of Kevin Durant. They held a league-worst 15-50 record prior to the suspension of the season due to COVID-19.
Green has missed several games as well, notching 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals in 43 appearances.
As vocal as he is both on and off the court, Green admitted that he is still adjusting to his new mentorship role.
“I’ve been a leader on the team, but I’ve always kind of been like a little brother… that’s still got an attitude problem. So I get mad at times and go off, and then one of them guys (veterans such as Jarrett Jack, Jermaine O’Neal, David West) are like ‘shut up, you’re good now.’ I’ve always had that guy, and now, all of a sudden, I was kind of that guy,” he added.
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