Draymond Green Doesn’t Need A Babysitter, Reaffirms Stephen Curry After Tense Encounter with Ref vs Lakers

Draymond Green – that’s a name that evokes a whirlwind of emotions. Defensive powerhouse? Check. Vocal leader? Check. Occasional hothead? Check. Lately, Draymond’s flaming temper has been a reason for concern within the team – Golden State Warriors. Multiple altercations with referees threatening to derail their playoff push have been enough proof. 

While this is a concern for Draymond himself, it has led some to question Stephen Curry’s leadership. The highlight here was the latest incident of altercation in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers where the 34-year-old got into a heated exchange with a ref. Curry did intervene, and Draymond avoided a technical or ejection. But evidently, Steph Curry wants to set the record straight – Draymond Green doesn’t need a babysitter.

Amid Draymond Green’s troubles with anger, Stephen Curry takes a stand

Curry addressed the issue in a press conference, stating, “We always talk about Draymond. ‘He walks the line’, whatever that means… showing his competitive side.” That said, he does know Draymond’s intensity, and he believes that it’s a core part of his effectiveness. He further went on to explain about Draymond’s fire. 

The key, as per Curry, is in finding the balance. His words “There’s a moment where okay, you made yourself heard, and now let’s play basketball,” attests that. At this point, Curry steps in, not to stifle Draymond’s fire, rather to make sure it does not consume him as a player. 

Klay Thompson resonated with Curry’s sentiment. In a podcast, Thompson admitted that Draymond’s ejections “hurt sometimes.”  He went on, “We need you [Draymond]. When you’re not out there, it’s like a piece of us is gone.” But how weak are the Warriors without him? 

The effects of Draymond’s outbursts on the Warriors

The statistics back this up. The Warriors significantly need Draymond’s defensive presence. Not to mention his playmaking abilities. It has been record time and again that when he’s on the court, their record is stellar; recording 32-21 in his presence.

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So, is there a solution? While muzzling Draymond is not one, channeling his passion in the most productive and effective way possible could be a solution. After all, Curry’s leadership is not defined by how well he babysits. It’s defined by fostering an environment where Draymond’s fire fuels the team, instead of hindering it. Steve Kerr also admitted late last month that it is necessary of him to be involved and remind Green of his actions and the need to find the right spot. However, he later asserted Draymond is a grown man and he is alone responsible for is actions. 

While there’s barely any doubt that the Warriors are a championship-caliber team, Draymond’s outbursts if not mitigated, will prove costly. If Curry and the team successfully navigates these emotional moments, they might just find themselves back on top. 

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