Draymond Green isn’t pretending the finish line is nowhere in sight. As he gets ready for his 15th NBA season, the Warriors veteran is sounding more reflective about what could come next - and he’s making it clear that staying in Golden State is his preference, not his guarantee.
Green said he would like to end his career where it started, but he also acknowledged the difference between his situation and Stephen Curry’s. Curry has spent his entire career with the Warriors and is heading into his 18th season, with every indication that he plans to stay in Golden State until he retires. Green, meanwhile, knows the business side can get messy.
“I would love to retire a Golden State Warrior. However, I’m also not Steph Curry, right?
So I don’t have every luxury that Steph Curry has, and that’s okay,” Green told CNBC Sport. “It’s such a rare thing to be on one team your entire career.
And if I can accomplish that feat, I would love to.”
That doesn’t mean Green is bracing for disappointment. He made it clear there would be no bitterness if the Warriors decide his future is elsewhere.
“I would love to play basketball next year…if that’s not here, I’m not going to retire,” Green continued. “If I don’t (fit into the team's plans), great. But I’m extremely grateful for the journey that I’ve been on here.”
Golden State has been home for Green since the team drafted him 35th overall in 2012, and he said he would choose to spend the rest of his career there if he had complete control. He believes he could finish as one of the best second-round picks in league history. At 36, though, he knows the clock is ticking.
Green is also aware that the Warriors may eventually have to make difficult business decisions, and he said he wouldn’t carry any “ill-feelings” if this ends up being his last season with the team. His contract situation adds to the uncertainty, with Green set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
For now, though, he’s keeping his focus on the present and on what he has built alongside Curry and Steve Kerr.
“I don’t know how many years I have left in the NBA, let alone at this place. For me, it’s all about enjoying what’s in front of us.”
The Warriors open the 2026-27 season on the road against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
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