Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green’s decline could be rapid

Without a reliable jumper to fall back on, Draymond Green’s decline with the Golden State Warriors could happen in a whirlwind.

It’s already happening, in some ways. We saw stretches of 2019-20 when Green was virtually a non-factor without the Splash Brothers.

More notably, Green struggled all throughout the 2022 NBA Finals, averaging 6.2 points on 33.3% shooting from the floor to go with 4.2 personal fouls and 2.5 turnovers.

Green wasn’t all bad, though. He still led the Warriors in assists (6.2) and fell behind only Jayson Tatum (7.0) for the series. His defense in the decisive Game 6 was a core reason the Dubs prevailed.

Even so, the Warriors should feel slightly concerned moving forward.

How much longer will Draymond Green be an elite contributor to the Golden State Warriors? Could his decline happen rapidly?

Right now, Green is making his money as a world-class defender and playmaker. His ability to score has all but vanished. This means Green needs to remain an elite passer and stopper in order to be an effective player.

The playmaking won’t disappear anytime soon. Green has a deep understanding of the game and unparalleled chemistry with the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

His high IQ will benefit him on the defensive end, as well, where Green has never been an overtly dominant athlete but has always been a dominant defender.

Still, his age will play a role. Green is 31 years old and entering the back half of his career. How much longer will he be able to slide his feet on the perimeter? Will he have the energy to fend off bigger defenders in the paint and make the timely rotations he’s always been capable of?

This is the question Golden State is afraid to know the answer to. Green is far too important to their success for him to rapidly have a decline in his game. While the current signs are only minimal — it’s enough to cause concern.