How Stephen Curry’s Game 4 may have saved Draymond Green’s Golden State Warriors’ career

While there’s been some occasions where Draymond Green’s career at the Golden State Warriors appeared on a knife’s-edge, the 32-year-old has carved out a hall-of-fame legacy across his 11 seasons with the franchise to date.

Many have suggested that Green has a lot to thank superstar teammate Stephen Curry for when it comes to his career. While the former Defensive Player of the Year will rightfully refute that and showcase how he’s forged his own path, there’s now at least one example where Green admits to  Curry carrying him.

Stephen Curry’s historic Game 4 not only proved the turning point of the 2022 NBA Finals, but it may have saved Draymond Green’s career at the Golden State Warriors.

The two-time MVP dragged his side over the line in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics, scoring 43 points as the Warriors overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to tie the series at 2-2. It would prove the defining moment of the Finals with Golden State assuming control and winning Games 5 and 6 to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Green was criticized heavily for his performances to start the series, though he did respond to make an important contribution in each of the final two games. However, the now four-time champion is well aware that his legacy may be totally different if not for Curry’s Game 4 heroics.

"“…He carried me…His performance was all so I didn’t get murdered. Like we were losing that game, we were losing Game 4. He did not let us lose. And if we would have lost…I would have gotten murdered”, Green told UNINTERRUPTED."

Not only did Curry carry Green and most of his teammates in that famous performance, but it could have also saved Green’s career at the Warriors. The outspoken four-time All-Star voiced his displeasure at being benched by head coach Steve Kerr during the fourth-quarter of that pivotal game.

"“I got offensive/defensive sub, by the way I felt like that was disrespectful as f**k…Afterwards I had to take myself to a place of like – don’t go down that road. Because for me, that road can get ugly…We won, I’m cool. Had I got benched and we lost though, I’m not sure I would have handled it well”, Green said."

Who knows what would have happened in the aftermath of a lost Finals where Green was benched in perhaps the most vital moments of the series. Would the relationship and trust between he and Kerr have been able to recover? Would Green have been able to effectively manage the onslaught (or murder) that would have come from home and opposing fans on social media? These are all fair questions, especially after Green found a new outrageous way to make headlines when he king hit teammate Jordan Poole during training camp.

While many might be taking a pessimistic view to the Warriors’ disappointing start to their championship-defending campaign, just think how much worse it could be if not for Curry’s astonishing Game 4 performance.