The Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green admitted that this season has been ‘very trying.’
Draymond Green isn’t a player that you’d typically think admits to getting tested. After four straight runs to the NBA finals and two straight championships, the daily grind gets to even the league’s toughest players.
However, I doubt Green would trade it for the world. The vast majority of players never get to experience the type of success that Green and the Warriors have seen over the last few seasons. Green was quoted saying this by The Mercury News’ Mark Medina.
Green understands the amount of work it takes to get to the Finals, and it isn’t easy for anyone on the team to maintain their level of play long-term, especially for five straight seasons. What is exciting is that the Warriors will enter the All-Star break as the West’s best team.
Last season, the Warriors didn’t finish as the West’s top team, and it almost cost them the season when they faced a Game 7 on the road. However, the luck that Green also mentions didn’t quite run out as Houston had one of their worst shooting performances of the season that game.
This offseason will be telling for the Warriors dynasty moving forward, so this may only be the start of the challenges for Green. With Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant both entering free agency, the Dubs will likely lose an All-Star-caliber player.
Going back to the roster that was before the addition of Kevin Durant won’t be easy. If that’s the case, Green will have to find a way to both lock himself in and find a way to motivate players like Andre Iguodala who have also been around for the Warriors extensive playoff success.
This postseason may be the team’s most challenging as well. With teams like Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto or Milwaukee coming out of the East along with Portland, Houston, and Oklahoma City in the West, the Dubs will have no easy route to a third championship.
With Durant and Stephen Curry healthy and leading the team, they should be fine, but as Green details, fatigue could be a real issue with this team moving forward.