The Warriors fans are well aware of Draymond Green’s on-court volatility during the playoffs. In Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, LeBron James stepped over Green following a collision, and Green retaliated by swiping at James’ groin area. The NBA assessed a Flagrant 1 foul, giving Green his fourth flagrant point of the playoffs and triggering an automatic suspension for Game 5. His absence proved to be pivotal, as the Warriors, leading the series 3–1, lost that game and eventually the series. So, the Dub Nation was watching with one eye closed as the Rockets tried getting into Green’s head during Game 1 of their series on Sunday night.

Houston came out physical, aggressive, and annoying—especially Alperen Sengun, who was chirping non-stop and trying to bait Draymond into one of those classic ejections. You know the kind. But here’s the twist: Draymond Green didn’t lose it.

While Houston’s aggressive tactics and some controversial refereeing clearly frustrated the Warriors, and Green was visibly irritated, he kept things under control. In fact, he might’ve had one of the most mature playoff performances of his career. No meltdown. No tech. Just calm, controlled intensity—and a lot of defense. The secret? A quiet sideline moment with someone most fans didn’t even realize was playing such a big role in Golden State’s run this season. Jerry Stackhouse. Yes, that Jerry Stackhouse. The 18-year NBA vet turned Warriors assistant coach might have just saved the game—and possibly the series—with a few words in Draymond’s ear.

While Green gave Stackhouse his flowers, he also sounded the alarm. If the Warriors don’t act fast, Stackhouse is as good as gone. “Some of these people (are) smart, they’re gonna be trying to hire him, but I hope they don’t pull him away from us cuz he he great now.

We lost Mike Brown; that was a huge loss for our coaching staff. But we eventually figured out we got, we got Kenny [Atkinson]. We lost Kenny, the man about to be Coach of the Year. Stackhouse is great, man. They can’t pull another one away from us. God, man.” Green said on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis on April 21.

Mike Brown served as assistant coach at the Warriors from 2016-2022 and was a key part in their three championship wins in 2017, 2018, and 2022. However, he left to become the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Kenny Atkinson joined the Warriors as lead assistant in August 2021. He played a significant role in the team’s coaching staff during his tenure. However, in June 2024, Atkinson left the Warriors to become the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, signing a five-year contract. And now, Green feels Stackhouse might follow their path.

Draymond Green is telling the Warriors that Stackhouse, the guy who kept him grounded, who redesigned their defensive culture, and who earned the full respect of the locker room, could get poached. And it’s not hard to see why. Stackhouse didn’t just help Draymond avoid a blow-up; he’s been helping him grow all season long.

Under assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse’s guidance, the Warriors have solidified their status as one of the NBA’s premier defensive teams. They concluded the regular season ranked seventh in defensive efficiency, boasting a defensive rating of 107.5. In their playoff opener against the Houston Rockets, the Warriors’ defense was instrumental in securing a 95–85 victory. They limited the Rockets to just 20.7% shooting from beyond the arc and forced 17 turnovers, resulting in 23 points off those turnovers. Additionally, Golden State recorded 14 steals in the game, highlighting their aggressive perimeter defense.

And when things were on the verge of unraveling in Game 1, he stepped up.

“Stackhouse, he just told me to keep doing what I was doing. He said, ‘You’re doing a great job. We’re not worried about what’s going on out there, so don’t get so caught up in your emotions during that time — stay locked in.’ So he was great for me,” Green said after the game about what Stackhouse told him during a second-quarter timeout.

And just like that, the fuse was defused. No explosion. Just defense. Vintage Draymond. The Warriors held Houston to 85 points and under 40% shooting. It was gritty, ugly, and perfect.

Draymond’s own numbers? Modest—four points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. But his impact? Immense. He embodied everything Stackhouse had been preaching. “He’s helping me grow from a 50-year-old standpoint,” Green said. “Like, I was young. He’ll tell me, ‘That was great; now go build them up,’ Helping me be a better leader.”

Is Steve Kerr’s time at the Warriors nearing its end?

Now, all this talk about Draymond Green warning the Warriors doesn’t stop with Stackhouse. There’s another giant piece looming over Golden State’s future: Steve Kerr. In a recent interview, Kerr admitted something that’s been whispered for a while: “I think every coaching job has an expiration date… [and] my time is probably tied to Steph’s.” When Curry hangs it up, Kerr might not be far behind.

This would mark the end of a dynasty for the warriors. The same dynasty that took the 4 rings with them. But it’s not just the end of the players because the coaching staff is about to follow suit. Stackhouse, in many ways, feels like a bridge to whatever comes next. He has the pedigree. He has the locker room. And he has Draymond Green—arguably the emotional pulse of the franchise—vouching for him loud and clear.

So while Draymond Green is focused on this postseason push, he’s also sending a not-so-subtle message to the front office. Because if Stackhouse gets hired elsewhere, it won’t just be another assistant lost, it might be the beginning of the end.

Steph dropped 31 on ridiculous efficiency, Draymond anchored the defense, and Stackhouse kept the team steady when things could’ve gone sideways. But beneath the surface, there’s an urgency. Draymond Green isn’t just fighting for another ring—he’s fighting to preserve what’s left of this dynasty. With Kerr potentially nearing the end and Stackhouse drawing attention from around the league, the clock is ticking.

For now, though, Draymond’s locked in. Thanks to Stackhouse, the Warriors are, too. And if Golden State makes another run this postseason, you better believe Draymond Green’s sideline warning will be the moment we all look back on.