There have been times since 2012 when Draymond Green’s occasionally fiery conduct tested the limits of everyone in the Warriors’ orbit, including the team’s prince of patience and sanity, Stephen Curry.
However, Curry never for a moment considered supporting the Green-Warriors divorce.
“I never get into that narrative because he’s had some situations where people want to criticize and jump in,” Curry said while appearing on NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dubs Talk podcast, which began Monday. “And he clearly takes a lot of responsibility for things that have happened over the last few years.
“But when it comes to seeing someone for who they really are and what they bring to the table, there’s no better example of a friendship and teammate relationship that can stand the test of time. Because at the end of the day it’s just trust. I know he’ll show up with the right mindset and do it his way and throughout the season. I can count on that.”
Now in their 14th season as teammates – the longest active span in the NBA – the Curry-Green relationship is do-or-die. It’s reminiscent of Green’s rookie season, when he proved capable of helping the Warriors like no one else. He was also thrown out of the court. When Curry, a devoted Carolina Panthers fan, mentioned in 2015 that he and his family were flying to Seattle to face the Seahawks, he was reminded of their notorious fans.
Curry’s response: Draymond is coming with me. And, naturally, when things got rowdy in the stadium, Green enjoyed playing bodyguard. It gave Curry a glimpse of Green’s commitment to those closest to him. He understood it because he is no different in that regard. They are both born under the Pisces sign and their loyalty is mutual.
At the core of their relationship is the quest for victory. They are excellent individual players, with Curry serving as Golden State’s offensive engine and Green serving a similar role on defense. Their two-man activity on offense is excellent, as it should be after 771 games together. Each person’s game is enriched by the other.
“I’ve said it since his first game, pretty much he’s a guy that can impact the game, no matter what the stat sheet says,” Curry said. “And he has lived up to this throughout his career and lived up to it as a true winner.
“But sometimes I need him to lift me up emotionally, because you know I might not have that in the tank. And if sometimes he gets too hot, I need him to cool me down, and vice versa.”
It is Drummond’s emotions that sometimes rub people the wrong way and also reduce the Warriors’ effectiveness. According to Spotrac, between technical fouls and other minor fines, he has paid the NBA nearly $1 million more. He has been suspended six times over a seven-year period (2016–2023), losing over $3 million in salary.
Green’s most sensational moment of unwarranted conduct came in October 2022 when he slapped then-teammate Jordan Poole in the face during a training-camp practice. Some within the organization wondered whether Drummond was still a good fit for the franchise.
Curry was among those disappointed by the unnecessary violence, but he stood by his longtime teammate.
“His highs and his lows are a little bit louder (louder) than other guys,” Curry said. “When you’re teammates and friends and stay with someone for so long… she’s seen my ups and downs, too, and whether it’s on the court in front of the cameras, or behind the scenes in the locker room, or whatever. We both have moments where we can lift each other up.”
It’s the rarely publicized side of Green that Curry appreciates most. The world knows about Drummond’s blowups, but Curry and others close to him know about the type, having grown up in rough-and-tumble Saginaw, Michigan, and understanding the value of being there for others, especially those in need.
It’s a trait shared by Green and Curry, who grew up in very different circumstances as the sons of NBA star Dell Curry.
“That’s the thing you learn when you know someone from day one,” Curry said. “Watching him as a husband, as a father, as a friend, it’s all about how he shows up to people. He’s also taught me a lot about trying to meet people. As wounded as he is, he has a very empathetic side to him that a lot of people don’t get to see.”
“He’s fiery, and he keeps you on edge all the time. And that’s what you need. But the other side of him, the mean gang. He’s also a thinker. Don’t let him distort that.”
Curry has seen dozens of teammates come and go since 2009, when he was drafted by the Warriors. Green came and stayed. This resulted in six trips to the NBA Finals, four of which ended with championships. These accomplishments wouldn’t have happened without Steph — or Drummond. When Curry was asked how many titles the Warriors would have won without Green, he said, “Oh, zero.” “Zero. Zero.”And the idea is, hopefully, there’s one more in the tank.
“And he’d say the same thing about me. He’d say the same thing about Klay (Thompson), or Andre (Iguodala) or (Kevin Durant). It goes back to the fact that when it’s all said and done, we’ll be able to go back to those specific moments.”
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
<a href=