Why the ‘flawed’ Draymond has Steph, Warriors’ best self this season, to thank

Why the ‘flawed’ Draymond has Steph to thank, Warriors best self this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Warriors open training camp this week, the list of factors shaping their direction this season is long enough to fill a book. It might start with the question of whether Stephen Curry, at age 36, can maintain superhuman abilities; No less important is the question of whether 34-year-old Draymond Green can complete an effective season without losing time in the NBA lockup.

Think of what the Warriors gain if Green has a season without suspensions, excuses and excuses. Someone who can defend five positions, make winning plays on both ends, bring transferable energy and add IQ points to less smart teammates.

Someone who could at least approach Deep Green’s career-high of 39.5 percent posted last season. Taking into account reasonably good health, all other factors – a reliable second scorer, rotational stability, a productive second unit, etc. – rank lower than these two. If Curry can’t hang on or Green suffers another season of absenteeism, nothing else will matter. The Warriors won’t be better than mediocre.

Curry’s productive history gives him grace, so Green’s behavior is the biggest risk. The more likely it is to fail. The central figures in Golden State’s circle — Curry, coach Steve Kerr, general manager Mike Dunleavy, CEO Joe Lacob — hold their collective breath.

For now they keep the faith.

“I think since last season, the incidents that occurred, he’s taken steps to correct that,” Dunleavy said last week during the annual preseason news conference at Chase Center. “I have no doubt or hesitation if Draymond is available for these reasons. Certainly other things come up, there are injuries, things like that. He’s not getting any younger.

“But he has a good mentality. Physically he is in a good place. He is a leader of our team and we will rely on him a lot.”

If this sounds familiar, it’s because after each of Draymond’s breakdowns, those at the top of the team’s organizational chart have always expressed optimism about the future. And they were all burned.

To his credit, Draymond always owns his mistakes. But isn’t that what abusers do? Abuse and excuses?

There was the Jusuf Nurkić incident last season, which followed the Rudy Gobert incident, which followed the punching of teammate Jordan Poole during training, which followed the beef with Kendrick Perkins, which followed the costly and unnecessary ejection after a loss to the Hornets. which followed the outburst directed at then-teammate Kevin Durant, which followed the most famous of them all: the actions that led to a Draymond being suspended in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, which the Warriors ultimately lost.

“One of the most brutal things I’ve ever had to experience in my life,” Green said afterwards. “If I played (Game 5), of course we win, so I feel like it’s my fault that we lost. Definitely my fault.”

This cycle is consistent with a codependent relationship, with Kerr admitting as much last April.

“I have so much confidence in Draymond because I know him so well as a person,” Kerr said. ‘He has flaws. We all have flaws. But he’d be the first to tell you that he probably has more flaws than the rest of us, right. I mean, he’s the one who committed these offenses, not the other guys, it was him. He would be the first to tell you that.

“But he’s one of the most loyal people I’ve ever met. He’s one of the most competitive and one of the smartest players I’ve ever had. 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.”

If Green had controlled himself a little better, the Warriors might have won a few more championships over the past ten seasons. Draymond has blamed himself for some of the team’s shortcomings related to his behavior. He knows how important he is to success; his personal winning percentage of .669 trails only Kawhi Leonard among players currently on an NBA roster.

This quest for success is behind the franchise’s patience with Green. His worth has given him a unique set of ‘rules’ to defy. To further illustrate this uniqueness, the Warriors signed Draymond to a new contract last year, knowing it could alienate Klay Thompson and even lead to his departure.

If Golden State’s hopes and wishes for the good Draymond could be weighed, they would be in the tons.

“He’s excited for the season,” Kerr said last week. “I thought he had a good year last year when he was on the floor. But obviously we missed him during the suspension(s), so we have to do everything we can to give Draymond another good year, but make sure this team is on the right track for all 82 games.”

Draymond’s list of sins, as defined in the Golden State Bible, is marathon-like, long enough to exhaust the souls of those with a deep and abiding tolerance. This season will likely be his last, best chance at reconciliation.

He wants another ring. This drives him. Imagine what that would do if he had another great season and the Warriors went to the NBA Finals again. It’s a gamble, sure, but isn’t that the only goal worth pursuing?

Such a performance could perhaps be the most satisfying of Draymond’s career at this stage. He will have given his best self to the franchise that stood by him, and to the superstar that has remained in his corner.

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