Draymond Green isn’t going anywhere - at least not yet. After weeks of swirling rumors and trade chatter, the four-time NBA champion remains with the Golden State Warriors. And if you ask him, the last 24 hours leading up to the deadline were anything but ordinary.
“It’s been a weird 24 hours,” Green admitted after the Warriors’ gritty 101-97 win over the Phoenix Suns, a game that came without Stephen Curry in the lineup. “Not something I want to get used to.”
You could feel the tension in his words. Green, a veteran who’s seen just about everything in this league, still found himself rattled by the uncertainty that comes with the trade deadline.
And yet, it’s in moments like these - when distractions are loud and futures feel uncertain - that a team’s character gets tested. According to Green, this win said a lot about the Warriors’ resolve.
“This says a lot about the character of the group,” he added, pointing to the resilience they showed on the court. With Curry sidelined and rumors swirling, the Warriors pulled out a hard-fought win against a tough Suns squad. It wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty - and maybe that’s exactly what this team needed.
Behind the scenes, there was more at play than just a game. Green’s name had reportedly come up in trade talks, with Golden State rumored to be eyeing a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo. If that deal had materialized, Green may have been the piece heading out - a possibility that clearly didn’t sit well with him.
But let’s be clear: Green isn’t itching to leave the Bay. In fact, he made it known that while he’s open to new experiences, he’s still firmly rooted in what he and Steph Curry have built in Golden State.
“I’ve always wanted to [play with LeBron],” Green said, reflecting on the idea of teaming up with James. “Saying I wanted to go to his team, that’s not the case. I’m very comfortable in my situation with 30 [Curry] and what we’ve built and what we have.”
This wasn’t a trade demand or a veiled shot at the Warriors. It was more of a basketball bucket list moment - a veteran acknowledging the intrigue of sharing the floor with one of the game’s greatest minds.
“I think him and Steph shared the want to take the court together, and they got the opportunity to do that in the Olympics in Paris,” Green continued. “I’ve always wanted the opportunity.
Just to experience it, to see how he thinks… what I could do to help him and his thinking. Or what can I learn and pick up about what he’s thinking?”
It’s a rare bit of transparency from Green, who’s never been shy about speaking his mind. And in a league where player movement is constant and loyalty is often tested, it’s refreshing to hear a player talk about curiosity and growth - not just chasing rings or markets.
So where does that leave Draymond Green now? Still in a Warriors jersey, still anchoring the defense, still doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet. And while the trade deadline may have shaken things up emotionally, it also served as a reminder: Green remains a core part of the Warriors’ DNA - for now.
As the dust settles and the second half of the season looms, all eyes will be on how this group responds. The Warriors are far from the dominant force they once were, but if that win over Phoenix is any indication, they’re not going down quietly. And with Draymond Green still in the fold, they’ve got a heartbeat that refuses to quit.