Even in the middle of the Warriors’ rough patch, Draymond Green managed to carve out a moment for the history books. His all-around performance—13 points, seven assists, two rebounds, two steals, and a block—was a big boost for the Bay Area team. But the real highlight? That single block moved him past Joe Barry Carroll to claim the second spot on the Warriors’ all-time blocks list.

But contending for the DPOY in this era of ‘Wembys and Chets’ isn’t easy. He has been impressive so far. Missing zero games. Green might be sitting out his first game this season. Coach Steve Kerr said Green skipped Monday’s practice because of a tight calf and is questionable for Tuesday’s showdown with the Nuggets.

The Warriors haven’t dropped their injury report yet, but it feels like they’re bracing for his absence. Luckily, this team’s bench has more depth than a Marvel multiverse, so you’d know someone capable’s stepping up to fill the gap!

Kerr said after the practice, “So now for tomorrow we’ll see how he holds up but this is what it’s going to be for our team at this point in Draymond and Steph’s career, their respective careers. We’re gonna try and keep their minutes down as best we can. You gotta try to keep them healthy be being proactive.”

“If they are dealing with nagging injuries like Steph’s knees last week, like Draymond’s calf now, so we gotta manage it all,” Steve Kerr concluded. Just as we were talking about the Splash Bro’s nagging knees, there is a brand-new development. Stephen Curry (knee) has been listed as probable for the matchup against the Nuggets! The number of dark clouds seems to be increasing.

Should Draymond Green play Center?

The Warriors face a tricky balancing act with Draymond Green—how much should he play alongside a true center? Coach Kerr and Green usually lean on Kevon Looney or Trayce Jackson-Davis to share the floor with him, easing the physical grind of wrestling with bigger opponents. It’s a smart move defensively too, letting Green roam and disrupt plays instead of sticking to the opposing center.

But here’s where it gets interesting: Green at center completely changes the Warriors’ spacing, creating more room for someone like Jonathan Kuminga to attack downhill. The team has leaned on this small-ball lineup for big moments, using Green’s defensive brilliance to close games.

He’s already spent 53% of his minutes this season as the small-ball five, and while the results are solid, Kerr knows it’s not a long-term solution. “I’m a huge believer in Draymond playing the five, but for limited minutes,” Kerr said. It’s all about keeping him fresh.

Remember last season? Draymond Green played center 70% of the time, but that was out of necessity, with fewer options behind him. This year, the Warriors’ deeper bench gives them flexibility. They’ve been mixing and matching lineups, and honestly, it’s working. The team is 6.1 points better per 100 possessions with Dray on the floor.

Managing Draymond Green’s workload feels like a game of chess. The Warriors know they need him healthy to keep this season alive—and they finally have the pieces to make it happen. It’s all about playing smarter, not harder.