Draymond Green has been arguably the most important leader in the Golden State Warriors’ locker room during their historically successful run, and it sounds as if he is trying to prove to his teammates that he can still be that guy.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Green addressed Warriors players in the locker room following one of their losses during their current four-game skid. Green has missed the past three games with a toe injury and will sit again on Friday night, but that didn’t stop him from trying to rally his teammates after they fell 104-92 to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
Draymond Green addressed his teammates after a recent loss. Can Golden State get back on track? Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania breaks it down. pic.twitter.com/LMvCqCrzDr
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) November 23, 2018
“He was essentially preaching areas they have to improve on, how they have to regroup, go after loose balls, hustle plays — he’s working his way back as one of the leaders,” Charania said. “He was the emotional leader of this team before the incident with Kevin Durant last week.”
Injuries have played a big role in Golden State’s recent struggles, with Green out and Stephen Curry having not played since Nov. 8 with a groin injury. However, the rift between Green and Durant has dominated the headlines, so perhaps this is Green’s way of trying to put that to rest.
While both Green and Durant have tried to downplay their feud publicly, there have been more than a few hints that Durant is holding a grudge. If the tension continues, Warriors players may feel inclined to choose sides. That’s never a good thing for a team that’s looking to contend for a title.
