For more than a decade, Draymond Green has been one of the defining pieces of the Golden State Warriors dynasty. But according to the veteran forward, there’s still part of him that wonders how different his career might have looked under another offensive system.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Podcast, Green opened up about the complicated balance between personal sacrifice and team success, admitting that Steve Kerr may have limited parts of his offensive growth while also helping him become a four-time NBA champion.
Green said Kerr “hindered” aspects of his development as a scorer, though he made clear he doesn’t view that as resentment toward the coach.
“As much as he's done for me in basketball, a part of me think he's hindered me in my career and what I could have become,” Green said. “But what he's also helped me become. Like you got to take the good with the bad.”
Green entered the NBA in 2012 after a standout college career at Michigan State, where he averaged more than 16 points per game during his senior season. In the pros, however, his role evolved into something far different.
Playing alongside elite scorers like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and later Kevin Durant, Green became more known for defense, playmaking, and leadership than shot creation. He has never averaged more than 14 points per game in an NBA season.
Green explained that the shift went beyond simply sharing the floor with stars. According to him, the Warriors’ offense stopped running designed actions for him years ago.
“When KD came from 2016 on, I have not had a play in our playbook,” Green said. “Not a single play that we run for me in our playbook since 2016.” He added that the lack of offensive opportunities naturally impacted how his game developed over time.
Even so, Green repeatedly emphasized his appreciation for Kerr and what they built together in Golden State. The partnership helped produce four NBA championships, multiple Finals appearances, and one of the league’s defining dynasties of the modern era.
Green also credited Kerr with putting him in a position to maximize other parts of his game, particularly as a defender and facilitator.
