Kerr backs Draymond after turbulent year: ‘He’s worth it’

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr continued to back Draymond Green despite the issues he brought on the team this season.

“He’s one of the most competitive, he’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around,” Kerr told reporters Thursday during his season-ending press conference, including The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “And, yet, he makes these decisions that hurt the team, that aren’t smart. So how do you reconcile all that? It’s really difficult.

“The No. 1 thing I would say is, if we decided he wasn’t worth it, then we would have moved off of him years ago. But he’s worth it, and he’s worth it not only because of the banners that are hanging out there but because he really is a wonderful human being.”

The NBA suspended Green twice this season. The former Defensive Player of the Year missed five games in November after he put Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a brawl between both clubs.

Green then missed another 16 contests for striking Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic and was required to undergo counseling before rejoining the Warriors.

Golden State went 10-11 during Green’s two suspensions compared to 33-22 with the four-time All-Star in the lineup. The Warriors were clearly a better defensive team when Green was available, surrendering 4.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with the veteran on the floor.

Still, Golden State finished 10th in the West, just three games back of the Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 seed. The Warriors were eliminated from playoff contention following a 118-94 blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.

The sour end to the campaign has raised questions about the future of Golden State’s core. But Kerr was adamant about how much Green means to the franchise, even with all his flaws.

“As someone who loves Draymond and values him so much, I am going to continue to help him any way that I can to live his best life, to be the best version of himself, which he really was for the last two months,” Kerr said. “I’ll be really honest, during the suspension, I was sitting there, like, ‘Can he actually get a few sessions of therapy and change? I don’t think that’s possible.’

“But whatever he did over the last three months, he was the best version of himself, not just on the court, in the locker room, leading the young guys. His teammates would all tell you how great he was.”

Warriors’ Dunleavy wants Klay, Draymond back next season

Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is looking to keep his team’s core intact after a disappointing end to the 2023-24 season.

Dunleavy addressed reporters following Golden State’s 118-94 play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings, in which Klay Thompson, who is about to become a free agent, scored zero points and went 0 of 10 from the field.

“Certainly we want Klay back. I expressed that to him yesterday. … Everybody wants Klay back.” Dunleavy told reporters, including The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II, on Thursday.

Thompson’s decline last season was more noticeable than that of his fellow Splash Brother, Stephen Curry. His 17.9 points per game were the fewest since his second season, and his 38.7% clip from deep was the second-lowest mark of his career.

The 34-year-old has been with the Warriors since he was drafted in 2011, but he can choose to head elsewhere this summer.

Dunleavy also vouched for veteran forward Draymond Green’s return next season, saying he “cannot imagine a scenario where he’s not back.”

Green is under contract for three more seasons at nearly $78 million combined, but he’s had his fair share of issues in recent years with staying on the floor due to his antics. Most recently, his ejection four minutes into a critical contest against the Orlando Magic triggered an emotional response from Curry.

The Warriors’ dynasty has accumulated four championships since 2015, but the play-in loss this season marked the team’s earliest elimination from title contention with all three of Curry, Thompson, and Green healthy.

Klay ‘would love to be a Warrior for life’

Despite his recent benching, Golden State Warriors veteran Klay Thompson wants to stay with the franchise for his entire career.

When asked whether his recent role change impacts his desire to return, Thompson said, “Not really,” according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

“You’ve still got to examine all of your options, but I would love to be a Warrior for life. Whatever happens, though, I’ve got a few more years to play this game, so I’m gonna enjoy every second. I realize that I see light at the end of the tunnel, (and) I’m not sure if I want to play until I’m 40, man. That sounds really exhausting.”

Thompson has come off the bench in his last four games, the first time since his rookie season that he’s played in a reserve role. Over that stretch, the 34-year-old is averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and two assists in 27.1 minutes. He’s also making four 3-pointers per game, shooting 42% from deep.

The Warriors are 3-1 since Thompson’s role change and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They rank 10th in the Western Conference.

The veteran guard is set to hit free agency in the summer and remains the only core member of the franchise who doesn’t have a deal in place for next season. The franchise extended head coach Steve Kerr last week.

“I’m doing great,” Thompson said. “I think I’m doing much better in not putting my identity in my performance, especially after 11 years of NBA basketball. That alone is an incredible accomplishment. And to be out here and still be playing and having fun and being healthy, that trumps any big shooting night or 50-40-90 milestones.

“It took me a long time to realize that, but once I finally did, my game has been much better. I’ve been so much more at ease and realizing that, ‘Gosh, this is such a cool opportunity for me.’ Guys would kill to be in my shoes, even with all the injuries and all that. The heights we’ve reached are rare, so it’s been awesome.”

Steph ‘100%’ thinks he, Klay, Draymond will end careers with Warriors

Stephen Curry believes there’s a strong possibility he’ll be playing alongside Klay Thompson and Draymond Green for the remainder of his career.

In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Curry said he, Thompson, and Green have a shared goal of retiring as a Warrior and ending their careers on a high note.

“A hundred percent,” Curry responded when asked if he thinks the trio will be Warriors for life. “I think that’s always been a motivator for us, and I think the way that we talk about it is we not only want to end our career as a Warrior, continue to compete at a high level, but you want to end it the right way.

“I think we’ve been through a lot this year, the three of us. Especially with Draymond’s absence for a while, with Klay taking on a new role, the new cast of characters that we have that are right alongside us in this journey, I think it’s extremely possible to accomplish both. We just have to protect the identity of who we are as best we can, and I think we’re moving in that right direction.”

Curry, Thompson, and Green have spent their entire careers in Golden State, winning four championships together between 2015 and 2022.

Curry is under contract with the Warriors through the 2025-26 season, when he’ll be 37 years old. Green’s contract runs through 2026-27 and includes a player option for the final year, while Thompson’s is up at the end of this season.

Warriors won’t trade Klay, Draymond before deadline

A pair of veteran Golden State Warriors look to be sticking around.

The team has no interest in trading forward Draymond Green or guard Klay Thompson before the Feb. 8 deadline, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

The Warriors have struggled over the first half of the season, going 20-24 – good for 12th in the Western Conference.

Thompson is averaging 17.6 points this campaign, his lowest mark since his second season in the NBA, while adding 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Green is averaging 9.3 points, 6.1 assists, and six rebounds this campaign.

On top of the team’s struggles this season, Green was also suspended for 21 games as a result of separate incidents involving Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic.

Meanwhile, head coach Steve Kerr has advocated for the franchise to not trade guards Chris Paul and Gary Payton II.

“We’re not going to find better players than (Paul and Payton) in a trade,” Kerr said Wednesday on 97.5 The Game‘s “Willard & Dibs” show. “It’s exceedingly rare to make a deal where you can upgrade your talent to that level.”

A player that Golden State could move is forward Andrew Wiggins. The franchise has included the 28-year-old in player-for-player trade offers, league sources told The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.

The Warriors take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Draymond: Silver convinced me not to retire

NBA commissioner Adam Silver dissuaded Draymond Green from choosing to retire amid his most recent suspension, the Golden State Warriors forward said Monday.

“I had a conversation with Adam Silver, commissioner of our league. I told him, ‘Adam this is too much for me. … It’s all becoming too much for me, and I’m going to retire,'” he said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “And Adam said, ‘You’re making a very rash decision, and I won’t let you do that.’ I’m like ‘No, Adam, I’m not really sure it’s a rash decision. It’s just all too much.’

“We had a long, great conversation – very helpful to me. Very thankful to play in a league with a commissioner like Adam who’s more about helping you than hurting you, helping you than punishing you. He’s more about the players. And so I’m very lucky to have, or to be in a position, to be under the guidance of an Adam Silver, of a Joe Dumars, of someone who’s been really close to me hand in hand throughout as I’ve been walking through this.”

Green was suspended indefinitely Dec. 13 for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head, though the league said it considered his history of unsportsmanlike acts in its decision. Green was also banned for five games in November for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an on-court altercation, and he received a one-game suspension in April for stepping on Domantas Sabonis.

Green reportedly entered a counseling program while away from the team. That’s expected to continue after he resumes playing, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 33-year-old has since been reinstated, though he’s yet to play as he continues to ramp up his basketball activity. He was on the bench Sunday for the Warriors during their 133-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Green is reportedly expected to return sometime within the next week.

Warriors top Forbes’ list of most valuable NBA teams for 2023

The Golden State Warriors remain the NBA’s most valuable franchise for the second straight year.

After topping Forbes’ annual valuations list for the first time ever in 2022, Golden State once again came in at No. 1 for 2023 with a value of $7.7 billion – a 10% increase from a year ago. The Warriors generated $765 million in revenue during the 2022-23 season, 48% more than any other NBA team, according to Forbes’ Mike Ozanian and Justin Teitelbaum.

The New York Knicks were the runners-up with a value of $6.6 billion, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers in third place at $6.4 billion. Rounding out the top five were the Boston Celtics ($4.7 billion) and Los Angeles Clippers ($4.65 billion).

On average, NBA teams are worth $3.85 billion – up 35% from last year and 75% higher than in 2019. Forbes attributes the surge in values to the majority stake sales of the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets, as well as the Haslam Sports Group buying a 25% ownership stake in the Milwaukee Bucks.

Here’s the full list:

RANK	TEAM	VALUE
1.	Golden State Warriors	$7.7B
2.	New York Knicks	$6.6B
3.	Los Angeles Lakers	$6.4B
4.	Boston Celtics	$4.7B
5.	Los Angeles Clippers	$4.65B
6.	Chicago Bulls	$4.6B
7.	Dallas Mavericks	$4.5B
8.	Houston Rockets	$4.4B
9.	Philadelphia 76ers	$4.3B
10.	Toronto Raptors	$4.1B
11.	Phoenix Suns	$4B
12.	Miami Heat	$3.9B
13.	Brooklyn Nets	$3.85B
14.	Washington Wizards	$3.5B
15.	Denver Nuggets	$3.38B
16.	Cleveland Cavaliers	$3.35B
17.	Sacramento Kings	$3.33B
18.	Atlanta Hawks	$3.33B
19.	San Antonio Spurs	$3.25B
20.	Milwaukee Bucks	$3.2B
21.	Utah Jazz	$3.09B
22.	Portland Trail Blazers	$3.08B
23.	Detroit Pistons	$3.08B
24.	Oklahoma City Thunder	$3.05B
25.	Charlotte Hornets	$3B
26.	Orlando Magic	$2.95B
27.	Indiana Pacers	$2.9B
28.	New Orleans Pelicans	$2.55B
29.	Minnesota Timberwolves	$2.5B
30.	Memphis Grizzlies	$2.4B

4-time NBA champion Iguodala officially announces retirement

Andre Iguodala officially announced his retirement Friday, ending an illustrious 19-year professional career.

The four-time NBA champion, who will now focus on a second career as a start-up investor in tech, confirmed the decision with the New York Times’ Dealbook.

Iguodala, 39, returned to the Golden State Warriors ahead of their title-winning 2021-22 season after spending the previous two campaigns with the Miami Heat. The one-time All-Star (2012) announced intentions to retire prior to this season.

The Arizona product enjoyed his best years in Golden State, winning NBA Finals MVP in 2015 as the Warriors won four titles across a seven-season span.

Iguodala averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and four assists in the 2015 NBA Finals and was largely credited with limiting LeBron James on the offensive end during the series. James shot 38.1% from the field while guarded by Iguodala as the Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games and won the franchise’s first title in 40 years.

Iguodala also enjoyed spells with the Philadelphia 76ers – who selected him ninth overall in the 2004 NBA Draft – the Denver Nuggets, and the Heat. He was twice selected to the NBA All-Defensive Team (2011, 2014) and earned All-Rookie First Team distinction in his maiden term with the Sixers.

His 1,231 games played rank 39th in NBA history.

Iguodala was also a member of the United States national team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Summer Olympics, winning gold on both occasions.

Draymond: Steph is ‘trying to defeat age’

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has shown little sign of slowing down as he enters his 15th season, and teammate Draymond Green believes it’s due to his work ethic and continued passion for the game.

Green spoke about what it’s been like to watch Curry keep Father Time in check during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“I think he is one of the most special people to be around, and I think when you look at Steph, he’s nice, right? He smiles. He’s the golden child. He’s all of these things – baby-faced assassin, you name it,” Green said Monday. “Underneath all of that is like a never-dying passion that’s just burning, raging. And he works as hard as I’ve ever seen anybody work – whether that’s in the weight room, whether that’s on the basketball court, (or) in life. He’s always reading a book, you know? He works harder than anyone that I’ve seen work. …

“You can just watch him – he’s trying to defeat age, and it’s evident to me every day. Every day, I come in and I watch him and I’m just like, ‘This dude continues to work harder and harder.’ Each year, he’s working harder and harder. This dude’s trying to defeat age. We all know Father Time is undefeated, and guess what he’s doing right now? He’s beating those odds.”

The 35-year-old Curry recently stated that he hopes to continue playing as long as LeBron James, who turns 39 in December and is entering his 21st season.

In 56 games last season, Curry averaged 29.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field and 42.7% from 3-point range.

Draymond expects to miss 4-6 weeks with ankle sprain

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is expected to miss four-to-six weeks after suffering an ankle sprain during a pickup game, he told Andscape’s Marc Spears on Saturday.

The injury comes just days before training camps open across the NBA and under a month before the Warriors’ first regular-season game Oct. 24 against the Phoenix Suns.

“I dodged a bullet and learned that today, by the way, it’s (positively) reacting,” Green told Spears. “Even with an MRI, you don’t see the trend of it immediately. The swelling is down.”

Green’s status to begin the campaign is in question for the second straight year. He took a leave of absence during last year’s training camp after punching former teammate Jordan Poole in practice. Green inevitably returned and suited up to start the season.

The 33-year-old signed a four-year, $100-million contract in the offseason after posting 8.5 points per game in 2022-23, his highest tally in five campaigns.

Should Green miss any action, reserve forward Jonathan Kuminga would be in line for more playing time. The 2021 No. 7 pick has shown flashes of being a rising star but has averaged just 18.8 minutes per game over two NBA seasons.