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OKLAHOMA CITY — Draymond Green’s primary assignments the past three games? Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That’s arguably the best player in the league for long stretches of this season, one of the most lethal scorers of all time, and the potential back-to-back MVP.
The Warriors always ask a lot of Green defensively, because they know he can handle it. But this is a new wrinkle for the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year.
“Three games straight,” Green said. “That’s a badge of honor. I get excited as hell, because it’s a challenge…to draw those responsibilities at this point in my career is amazing. And it energizes me a lot.”
Green turned 36 this week. He has been the defining defensive player of his era and had a strong case to win DPOY last season (he finished third). That he’s up to these challenges highlights his competitiveness and the team’s current state.
Without Moses Moody, who sprained his right wrist, the Warriors are without their best perimeter defender. They’re also missing Will Richard, another wing option. But Kristaps Porzingis returned on Saturday in Oklahoma City and Al Horford is enjoying his best stretch with Golden State, allowing Steve Kerr to consistently put a true center next to Green and thereby affording him the opportunity to defend a perimeter star.
Green made Leonard, Durant, and Gilgeous-Alexander work hard. His physicality prevents easy catches and he’s still quick enough to cut off drives. They’re still, of course, difficult assignments — for Green or anyone.
To beat the feisty Warriors, 104-97, Gilgeous-Alexander rose up for a dagger 3-pointer with 42 seconds left. Green said he was “disgusted” by himself for allowing the reigning MVP too much rhythm and cushion.
“I am a very prideful person,” Green said. “And I just can’t go out there and get murdered. You know, it’s going to happen when you’re playing against great players like that. But at the same time, for me, I just can’t go lay down. I can’t go out there and feel like it’s easy. And so, it brings the best out of you when you’re guarding guys like that.”
The Warriors were outscored by 80 points in Green’s minutes in February. Over the course of his career, he’s been a plus-minus God, an example of how much value his unique skill set provides.
It’s no coincidence that these three March games, when he took on difficult challenges, were some of Green’s best since the start of 2026.
“I think it excites him when we give him the task of, ‘You guard the best player,’” Kerr said. “I think he loves it. He’s so up for the challenge. He’s still one of the greater defensive players in the game.”
Green concurs.
“I think our coaching staff has figured out I have a lot more energy when I get that kind of assignment,” Green said.
Gui Santos, Nate Williams, and Gary Payton II also spent time checking Gilgeous-Alexander during Saturday’s loss. But when those players were in front of the superstar, Golden State’s defense had to load up behind them to protect the paint. Green could play Gilgeous-Alexander straight up, letting the Warriors maintain their shell instead of getting forced into rotation.
Watch how Payton positions himself at the nail to help Santos.
Source: NBA.com
The overreaction allows his man, Kenrich Williams, to cut behind him for an easy layup. But if he didn’t show help, Gilgeous-Alexander very possibly could’ve blown by Santos for a bucket of his own.
You don’t need to do that when Green is in a defensive stance against Gilgeous-Alexander. Or Durant. Or Leonard. You let Green play on an island and live with the result, trusting in his ability to get stops in individual matchups.
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For much of the past few seasons, the Warriors have tasked Green with playing heavy minutes as their small-ball five. Without a consistent center who could shoot, that was the team’s best two-way option.
That alignment also had been Golden State’s superpower throughout its dynasty. Green’s rare ability to defend players with massive size advantages over him, while simultaneously acting as a dynamic playmaker on offense, stampeded opponents.
But those lineups have been far less effective this season. Lineups with Green on the court and both Horford and Quinten Post off it have posted a neutral net rating. Those results aren’t menacing enough to warrant the “Death Lineup” moniker.
Green is in his 14th season and averaging his lowest minutes load since his second year in the league. Finding a way to maximize his production is a priority for the Warriors.
Could switching his assignment from small-ball five to perimeter stopper be more sustainable? Is that responsibility, in a way, less physically demanding?
“It’s different,” Green said. “Small-ball five is taxing. But it’s a different challenge. Small-ball five, you’re absorbing all the force of the offense, at all times. Somebody come downhill, you’ve got to be the primary help guy. You’ve got to set the paint. You’ve got to be the guy to set the box outs. That’s kind of the challenge of the small-ball five. And then rebounding. If I’m at the five, we’re a lot smaller elsewhere.”
That’s just the first half of Green’s Ted Talk.
“The challenge with these [primary options], their teams are looking for them every play,” he continued. “So you never get a break. And the moment you relax, you lose — you’re a step behind. Now they have the advantage.
“And if you try to make up a disadvantage that Shai has created for you, you’re going to foul. If you try to make up the disadvantage that KD creates, you’re dead. He’s going to raise up and there’s nothing you can do about it. Same for Kawhi. So, completely different challenges. All taxing in their own right.”
Green’s insights seem to suggest that playing center may be more physically stressful, but trying to slow down opponents’ best players might be more mentally straining.
The Warriors have been trying to tread water while Steph Curry recovers from the runner’s knee that has sidelined him for over a month. To overcome nightly talent deficits, they need to play harder than their opponents. With more energy. More intensity.
Green defending the SGAs and KDs of the league seems to be a shot of espresso. If those kind of matchups continue consistently when the team is eventually back at full strength, the trend could be something more: a new notch in Green’s defensive belt.