The stakes are at an all-time high for Draymond Green as the Golden State Warriors will be relying on him to come back stronger than ever.
It’s been three years since Draymond Green won his first Defensive Player of the Year Award. In the time that has followed, Green’s production for the Golden State Warriors has steadily declined. Soon, the Dubs will begin to really hurt from Green’s inconsistency.
Last season, he had one of his worst campaigns to date. Not only did his statistics decrease in just about every category but his on-court clash with Kevin Durant might have sealed Durant’s decision to leave the franchise.
This year, Green has underwhelmed in the absence of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. His numbers have dipped again and he has shown obvious signs of exhaustion as the physical strain of playing in five straight NBA Finals is taking its toll.
What the Dubs need from Green next season
Green was the heart and soul of the Warriors’ championship runs. His energy kept them afloat when times got hard. Next season, Green needs to reignite the flame within him to push the Dubs over the top once again.
His fire on defense has diminished. This could be a result of losing some of his best defensive teammates such as Durant, Thompson and Andre Iguodala. Nonetheless, Green will have to step it up in order to bolster the Warriors defense which gave up the 2nd most points per game this year.
Green also needs to find his jump shot again. He has never been a knockdown shooter but he has shot below 30 percent from the 3-point line in back-to-back seasons. His inefficiency from deep will cost the Dubs moving forward as spacing becomes more important.
As he approaches 30 years of age, the time is running out for a revitalization. Green has a great opportunity to solidify his greatness next season but it will take a notable performance.