Draymond Green is a multiple-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, a key cog for one of the NBA's most notable dynasties.
But before Green was a franchise cornerstone, he was just a rookie struggling to fit in with a Golden State team he felt needed an attitude adjustment.
Green told Cari Champion he wanted to change the teams mindset after years of losing, even if it meant coming off as a brash, loudmouth rookie:
“So when I stepped off the plane, I was coming in like, ‘F–k ya'll. I'm here to get a spot. I'm here to help this team win,' because they were some f–king losers,” Green said, via Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I had never lost in my life. So I came in talking s–t to everybody. I came in trying to get as many minutes as I possibly can.
“I wanted to come in and try to change the mentality of this organization that had been getting their f–king heads cracked for years on end.”
The former Michigan State star also said former head coach Mark Jackson emboldened and encouraged him to be a vocal “dog” and leader.
Green would embrace his role as a workhorse, but it was actually under a new coach, Steve Kerr, that he unlocked his full potential.
Draymond had been a bench player in his first two seasons with Jackson at the helm. But Kerr inserted Green into the starting lineup in place of Andre Iguodala, a decision that unlocked Golden State's ball-movement offense and allowed Green to use his vision and screening abilities to the team's benefit.
After a long run at the top, Green and the Warriors were the big losers in the NBA this year after posting the worst record in the league.
But the Dubs will see a healthy return from both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson next season, and could immediately return to contender status.
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