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Golden State Warriors: Have we seen the best of Draymond Green?

By Tony Pesta

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Draymond Green has been steadily declining for the Golden State Warriors. Have we seen the best of the three-time All-Star?

It’s a trend that Golden State Warriors fans have done their best to deny but Draymond Green has been on a bumpy road for the last two seasons. The five-time All-Defensive member has shown signs of declining and will need to prove himself again next season.

Green helped change the game of basketball in 2015 with his versatile skill set. The Warriors stunned teams with their “death lineup” and Green’s fiery attack on the defensive end played a huge role in helping the Dubs capture three championships.

Last season, we saw the first indication that Green was beginning to decline as an athlete. He scored under 10 points a game for the first time in four seasons and shot a horrid 28.5 percent from the 3-point line.

Still, Green made up for his inefficiencies with solid defense and great playmaking skills. Though opposing teams were able to shrink the floor by sagging off of Green, his strengths outweighed his weaknesses.

In the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Green had a stretch in which he averaged 13.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists. This helped prove Green’s value and helped silence any of his critics.

However, the noise is louder than ever this season with Green shooting below 40 percent from the field while averaging just 8.2 points per game. The Warriors have the worst record in the league and Green has done little to fix this.

It’s obvious that Green’s numbers are being heavily affected by the absence of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Anyone would struggle without their star teammates by their side.

We shouldn’t be too concerned right now as Green will almost certainly look better next season. But, it is reasonable to ask if we have already seen the best of the former Defensive Player of the Year.

Green will be 30 in March and is feeling the toll of playing in five straight NBA Finals. His speed and athleticism have taken clear hits in recent years and this will only get worse as he grows older in age.

It doesn’t help that Green is a physical player by nature. His tendency to bang bodies down low with some of the NBA’s biggest players is something that will come back to haunt him later in his career. It’s possible Green is already feeling the consequences of his gritty playstyle.

Hopefully, a long summer will help Green recover and get back to peak playing shape for next year. The Warriors are going to need their three-time All-Star ready to go for another title run.

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