In the summer of 2016, Draymond Green recruited Kevin Durant to the Warriors. In the summer of 2022, he’s doing the opposite.
Green and Durant didn’t always get along, but those Golden State teams were arguably some of the best in NBA history. Four future Hall of Famers on the floor at the same time is tough to replicate, and Joe Lacob’s front office made it happen, at least for a few years.
Despite Durant being available again this offseason via trade, the Dubs appear to have taken their foot off the gas in any KD chase. Fresh off an NBA title, the Warriors don’t want to blow up a good thing — and what it would take to acquire Durant is a haul and a half.
Rather than pushing for Durant again, Green instead turned his attention to…JaMychal Green?
Warriors: Draymond Green recruited JaMychal Green
The pair have known each other since AAU ball, so there’s a reason they want to play together. Steve Kerr was the first to make the connection, and Draymond followed up with a call of his own.
“He was just excited,” JaMychal Green said. “We both know what we bring to the table, and we just had a good conversation about everything and he made it easy for me to come here.”
Both Greens figure to have a similar tole on the team, and JaMychal knows this going in. There should be no confusion, especially on a team that already has a championship core.
“Just come in and play hard,” he said. “Be a dog. Do the dirty work — help Draymond out with the dirty work. Knock down shots and play defense. I feel like if you come here and handle your business, you set yourself up for life.”
That sort of mentality is always welcome on a team like the Warriors. It’s winning time.