LeBron James is all set to play in his 22nd season in the NBA in a few months, but his good friend Draymond Green doesn’t plan on sticking around for anywhere near that long. Green recently appeared on the Club 520 podcast, where he revealed he might only have two years left in him.
“I’m on the wrong side of my downslide,” Green said. “Like, I’m headed into Year 13, I probably got two more,”
(starts at 7:49 mark):
Green entered the NBA all the way back in 2012 when the Golden State Warriors selected him with the 35th pick of the draft. He went on to play a big part in the Warriors winning four championships and becoming one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
All good things must come to an end, though. Green turned 34 earlier this year, and with the pounding he has taken from having to guard bigs his entire career, I am not surprised he thinks he only has a couple of years left.
Draymond is still playing at a fairly high level, though, and averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in 2023-24. I think if the Warriors, who missed the playoffs last season, can get back to being serious title contenders in the next couple of years, the four-time All-Star will stick around for a bit longer.
As of now, Green has three years left on the four-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Warriors in 2023. He has a player option worth $27.7 million for the final year of the deal and I don’t expect him to walk away from that kind of money, so he’ll be around for three years at the least.
Draymond Green Revealed The Team He’d Like To Be On If The Warriors Ever Trade Him
Green has spent his entire career with the Warriors and would love to retire as a one-team player, but there is no guarantee of that happening. A great example of that was Klay Thompson’s departure from Golden State this offseason. Should the day ever arrive when the team wants to part ways with him, Green hopes the Warriors trade him to the Detroit Pistons.
“I pray to God if (the Warriors) ever feel the need to get rid of me, at least send me somewhere… If they’re going to send me to any, like, non-winning organization, then send me to Detroit (Pistons). It’s the crib. I can make do with that… I’d much rather it’d be Detroit than Charlotte (Hornets)… I hope I don’t go anywhere.”
Green grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and played college basketball at Michigan State, so going to the Pistons wouldn’t be all that bad, even if they’re not winning. The team does have some good young pieces like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren, though, so they could be an attractive destination in a couple of years.
Even if the Pistons become a good team, Green would prefer to stay with the Warriors. If I had to make a prediction right now, I think he will end his career as a one-team player. I don’t see the Warriors letting him go after Thompson’s departure.
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