In a special collaboration podcast episode between “The Old Man & the Three” and “The Draymond Green Show,” the Golden State Warriors All-Star forward reflected on a bevy of different topics while sipping wine in front of a live audience with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter.
Green discussed the Warriors’ run to the 2022 NBA championship, the “new media” and other moments throughout his career. With four titles on his resume now, Green was also asked about Kevin Durant’s impact on Golden State’s championships in 2017 and 2018.
The four-time All-Star credited Durant for the Warriors’ 2017 and 2018 title campaigns against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green told Redick and Alter that he doesn’t think the Warriors would win the NBA Finals against the Cavs if Durant doesn’t come to the Bay Area. Green referenced opposing teams beginning to figure the Warriors out and Steph Curry still learning how to get a bucket on-demand before Durant’s arrival in Golden State.
Via @TheVolumeSports on Twitter:
"We would not have beat the Cavs coming back around without Kevin"@Money23Green talks about how important @KDTrey5 was to the Warriors' success. @OldManAndThree pic.twitter.com/jdyjIOE64H
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) June 28, 2022
But the reality is, I don’t think that team wins another championship if Kevin doesn’t come. Now, you may say, ‘Oh, yeah, but y’all won the fourth one without Kevin.’ But there’s a gap in there where teams started to figure us out.
We would not have beat the Cavs coming back around without Kevin. And here’s why: Teams had figured us out. And I personally don’t think at that point Steph Curry had figured out, ‘I’m going to get a bucket whenever I want to.’ I don’t think he was capable of that yet. I think he was still growing into that.
Listen to the full episode with Green, Redick and Alter here:
During the Warriors’ 2017 and 2018 title runs, Durant was named NBA Finals MVP in back-to-back series. Against the Cavs in 2017, Durant averaged 35.2 points on 55.6% shooting from the floor with 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks in 39.7 minutes per contest in five games. In his second appearance in the NBA Finals with the Warriors, Durant tallied 28.8 points on 52.6% shooting from the field with 10.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 41.3 minutes per game.
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