Draymond Green has long been a controversial figure across the NBA landscape, from punching now former teammates to a laundry list of technical fouls accumulated and games missed due to suspension. His budding career as an on-air analyst isn't devoid of him ruffling a few feathers either, which was certainly the case over All-Star Weekend on a multitude of fronts.
Beyond Green burying Sunday's festivities and the inclusion of Rising Stars, the four-time champion went as far as projecting that he and the Golden State Warriors were going to add another Larry O'Brien trophy to the mantle as soon as this season.
"I'm sorry," Green said during the telecast. "I said I think we're going to win a championship, but I lied. We are going to win the championship."
"I don't believe any of these teams are that great. Boston, yes, you gotta go through Boston. You gotta go through the champs. But we gotta get through the West first, but none of these teams scare me. I don't see any team where, oh, that's the team that's going to do it. You know why you don't see that team? Because you're about to start seeing the team. That's the Warriors."
Updated Golden State Warriors NBA Betting Odds
| Team | NBA Championship | Western Conference | Make Playoffs | Win Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +6500 | +3100 | -134 | 43.5 |
Odds as of February 18, 2025 at Sportsbook
As of writing, in the race for the 2025 crown, Golden State is tied for the tenth-shortest odds to become champions and the sixth-shortest odds to represent the West in the Finals.
Are The Golden State Warriors True NBA Championship Contenders?
Coming out of the break, the Warriors currently hold down the No. 10 seed in the West with a 29-28 record. Only a game and half separates them and the Phoenix Suns, which would then bump Golden State out of the play-in tournament bracket, yet the No. 6-seeded Los Angeles Clippers are only 3.5-games ahead in the standings, as well.
The Warriors were a part of the 2024 bracket trying to procure one of the final two playoff spots in the West, but got blown out by the Sacramento Kings 118-94 on the road. In an ideal scenario, Golden State would avoid that process entirely, but that would require holding off Phoenix while also leaping the likes of the Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks. There's very little wiggle room in the win-loss column, so it's going to require sustained success and a little bit of luck.
Green certainly isn't wrong in being confident in his team's chances. What else is he supposed to say beyond just keeping quiet altogether? Beyond the Oklahoma City Thunder having an eight-game lead over the rest of the pack atop the conference, no other team can realistically say they're second in the pecking order at the moment. Unlike in the East where there's a difference of 17 games between the second and tenth seeds, out in the West, those spots are separated by only 8.5 games.
It's a slim four-game window, but Golden State has appeared formidable since acquiring six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. The team went 3-1 with him in the starting lineup prior to the break while ranking fourth in defense (106.7 points allowed per 100 possessions) during that stretch. Now some of those victories did come with the opposing side missing key pieces, like a 14-point win over a Milwaukee Bucks team sans Giannis Antetokounmpo or a seven-point win over the Houston Rockets who were without Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason. Then again, that can't be held against the Warriors, who've been without Jonathan Kuminga since Jan. 4 and can only face who's in front of them.
Green's teammate Stephen Curry obviously took no issue with Green's proclamation following Sunday's All-Star Game, saying that the comments are "lighting a fire."
“I’m excited. I got Draymond on the telecast guaranteeing we’re winning a championship. I love expectations and having something to play for, so he’s lighting the fire for sure.” 😂
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 17, 2025
Steph on the second half of the season pic.twitter.com/W511D76GVn
"We have a lot to figure out still, and I think 27 games or so left to make a push," said Curry. "All we want is to get into a playoff series and have a fighting chance to be a tough out against anybody in the West. We have a good opportunity in front of us to do so. I'm looking forward to the challenge, and it's basically a playoff game every single night and that usually brings the best out of you."
Kuminga has resumed on-court workouts and his return could be just around the corner, and of the aforementioned teams currently seeking to move out of the play-in, only the Timberwolves have a tamer strength of schedule (.474) over these final months than Golden State (.488).
Will the Warriors win a fifth championship in 11 years and shock the world? Probably not. The odds aren't in their favor and parity has never been stronger. If the trend of a unique winner being crown each year since 2019 continues, then the basketball Gods have something else planned entirely which doesn't include Golden State.
Green isn't delusional, nor is he overplaying his hand. Confidence comes from not fearing to be wrong, and the 13-year veteran is afraid of nothing. Just know that if a Warriors win does come to fruition, you'll be hearing about it again and again from the man himself for a very long time.
Honestly, he'll have earned that victory lap.
