Category: NBA

Steph officially active for critical Warriors-Pelicans matchup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry is back.

After missing the Warriors’ last two games with a pelvic contusion, Curry officially is active for Golden State’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Smoothie Center, the team announced.

Steph is active for tonight’s game at New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/BEnrNvSbxI

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 28, 2025

Curry exited the Warriors’ 117-114 win over the Toronto Raptors last week after taking a hard fall on his backside in the third quarter.

An MRI the following day revealed Curry didn’t suffer any structural damage, which was good news considering the nature of the fall that forced the superstar point guard to exit Golden State’s win over Toronto.

The Warriors missed Curry dearly over their last two games, lopsided road losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat that dropped Golden State out of the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Now the Warriors can take the court in New Orleans with added confidence knowing the two-time MVP will be available to help snap their two-game skid.

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Kings provide less-than-encouraging update on LaRavia's thumb injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings have released an unfortunate injury update on forward Jake LaRavia’s thumb.

The 23-year-old sustained a bone contusion on his left thumb during Sacramento’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

A contusion is an injury to the inner structures of the bone, but it doesn’t result in a fracture. LaRavia will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days and will remain out of the lineup until then.

LaRavia was acquired by Sacramento from the Memphis Grizzlies at this year’s NBA trade deadline. In 19 games with the Kings, he is averaging 6.9 points on 50-percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent shooting from 3-point range, with 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in just under 20 minutes per game.

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Inside Pritchard's rise with Celtics and the trade that never happened originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Imagn Images/NBC Sports Boston

Take a stroll outside TD Garden before a Boston Celtics home game, and you quickly discover that Payton Pritchard-themed merchandise is a hot item.

Street vendors apologize for their lack of inventory on “Pritch Please” hoodies and suggest maybe snagging one of the few remaining T-shirts spilling out of the boxes next to their cluttered tables. 

Inside TD Garden, a cartoon Pritchard adorns the shirts of fans clutching “Pritch Please” signage. No. 11 jerseys dot the arena, some with Pritchard’s named still taped over Kyrie Irving’s old nameplate.

Two seasons ago, this all felt slightly improbable. Despite emerging as an immediate role player for the Celtics after being taken 26th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, and despite playing in all 24 playoff games amid Boston’s run to the 2022 NBA Finals, Pritchard’s playing time had all but dried up during the 2022-23 season. The Celtics had an overstocked backcourt with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon, who was steamrolling toward the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Quietly, Pritchard seethed, trying to use his lack of playing time as fuel to work even harder for whenever his next opportunity arrived. But he had started to wonder if that opportunity would be somewhere other than Boston, culminating with what was essentially a plea for Brad Stevens to move him if the Celtics’ president of basketball operations didn’t see a robust role for Pritchard with the team. 

“At the time, [asking for a trade] wasn’t really that hard because I just didn’t see a future,” said Pritchard. “I’ve always said this: It was nothing to do with the city or the organization. I think the organization is top-notch. I think Boston is the best sports city in the world. The best fans and the games are always sold out. As a player, you want to play in a situation like that. 

“But, end of the day, I’d rather be playing. And I wasn’t playing. I was watching a lot of games. Now, we were really good and I was going to be a good teammate, regardless of the situation. But I’m a competitor and I thought I belonged on the court to play, and play with the best. And so I went to Brad and just asked if, like, there was an opportunity out there where they could get value back. It didn’t end up working.“

Or maybe it did.

“Payton wasn’t playing a couple of years ago and that was hard,” said Stevens. “Part of the reason that that was hard was, he did play a lot his first year, didn’t play as much his second at the start, and then at the end of the second played more. And so you have that as your foundation. Sometimes when you have that as your foundation, it’s a lot more difficult to then go backwards. 

“But it was pretty clear, that summer [of 2023], that we should either probably help him find a place to play or make sure that we had space for him to play, because he’s a really good player and he’s kind of guy you want in your building. He’s an all-time worker.”

Danny Ainge, who drafted Pritchard, has often suggested that the best trades you make can be the ones you don’t. The Celtics put a high value on Pritchard and were rewarded for not making any sort of rash decision to ship him out. 

“I won’t go into specifics, but it takes two to tango,” said Stevens. “I think, at the end of the day, trade-wise, there wasn’t — to be honest with you, there was nothing even close.”

Stevens made seismic roster changes that summer that shipped out both Smart and Brogdon, as the Celtics reset their core with Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Despite the addition of a championship guard, it was clear there was a pathway to more playing time for Pritchard, whom Stevens soon engaged about a long-term extension.

By the start of 2023-24 season, Pritchard had the hope of consistent playing time and a four-year, $30 million contract extension. Two years after his trade request, it’s Pritchard who is steamrolling toward Sixth Man of the Year — and could be a key piece in Boston’s quest to repeat as champions.

Admitted Pritchard: “It ended up working out.”

There was a certain glow to Pritchard when he plopped down in a chair inside the WGBH building next to the Celtics’ practice facility earlier this month. Once reserved in these interview settings, he’s open and honest as this reporter asks him to relive the highs and lows of his Boston tenure. Teammates will soon take his spot, and then rave about his work ethic and his importance to Boston’s title hopes.

“Opportunities come and go, depending on coaching staff, depending on things that sometimes may be outside of your control,” said Jaylen Brown. “As long as you keep your head right, your work ethic, and continue to grow your game, your potential will shine through.

“Payton’s having a hell of a year this year. He’s been great for our group. He’s been a superstar in his role. He’s been the definition of a superstar in his role. And we’ve empowered that. It’s been an honor. It’s been a pleasure to be alongside somebody who has that work ethic, shows up every day to give you his best. And that’s what we need. 

“Payton’s a huge part of our team.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla struggled to find time for Pritchard at the start of his tenure as Boston coach, but has leaned heavily on him this season. 

“I’m grateful for his competitive nature and the passion that he brings every day,” said Mazzulla. “The great thing about him is he’s competitive and he wears his heart on his sleeve. He just wants to win. He wants to be a part of something great and he’ll do whatever it takes to do that.”

Echoed veteran big man Al Horford: “Payton’s resilient and Payton’s very driven. Payton, one of the things that everybody talks about is hard work, and he’s a very hard worker. But his mindset, he’s very competitive. He’s very resilient. And it’s just been pretty impressive to see the big leap that he has taken this year. And he’s obviously more confident.

“But just his will, it’s something that is contagious and inspiring.”

Pritchard’s hard work and resiliency should soon be rewarded with an individual honor: the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. It’s an award with deep Boston roots, from John Havlicek to Kevin McHale to Bill Walton to Brogdon. Now Pritchard is poised to etch his name into that lineage of Boston bench stars.

Pritchard might carve out a couple other entries in the record book, too.

He already set an NBA record for the most 3-pointers off the bench in a single season, and now is jockeying with teammates Jayson Tatum and White to set a new Celtics single-season record in 3-point makes. Pritchard and White were the first NBA tandem to score 40 points apiece in a win over Pritchard’s hometown Blazers last month.

Who could have envisioned all this back in February 2023? Pritchard bet on himself and has been handsomely rewarded.

What follows is more from our Q&A with Pritchard earlier this month, edited for clarity and brevity, as he revisited the highs and lows of his Boston journey:

What was your lowest moment of this journey?

Pritchard: “There’s a lot of moments where you question whether you’re going to make it, whether I was even gonna make it to this level, if I was going to be able to continue to play in the NBA.

“After my second year, I was part of the rotation, being in the Finals, and still a young player trying to develop, trying to get better. And then, third year, to not playing at all and going what felt like 20 games in a row, not touching the floor. Having many guys out and not playing still. So that could definitely be a mental test and a lot of people can kind of crumble in that situation.

“I was fortunate to have good vets around. I became close with Blake [Griffin] and he really helped me during that time because it just allowed me to have somebody that was a Hall of Famer in my ear telling me how much potential I really had. I had a coach named Aaron Miles that helped me through that year a lot, too.

“But a lot of those moments, I think, is what made me better. It made me hungrier. I worked on things that I needed to get better at. And hopefully this is just the start of it all. I hope I can continue this growth, and I know I’ll continue to put in the work to keep getting better. I don’t know what the future holds or what my ceiling is.”

Could you ever imagine, in that moment, how quickly it would have flipped? And do you ever think, “Man, I’m kind of glad Brad didn’t trade me?“

Pritchard: “Obviously, Brad made the decision to keep me here and obviously had belief in me that I could turn out to be something.

“I’m very happy to be here. I mean, this is like home. The East Coast is home to me now. So Boston, being from Oregon, I enjoy it here.”

How quickly did you start to see it turning the corner and when did you realize you were going to get a chance? 

Pritchard: “Well, once we started talking about the extension in the summertime that was going to come. Waiting to see like how that was going to work out. And then to see the guards leave, Smart and Malcolm, good players; we lost Rob [Williams III]. But like, we gained Jrue and KP. So got a lot of talent back.

“But I saw that there was a position, that I was going to be given at least 15 minutes a night. So I just took that opportunity and said, ‘OK, I’ll take 15 and try to build on that and just keep getting better and better and earn more and more.’

“I went through my slump still at first. I remember the start of my fourth year, I went the first five games, don’t even know if I hit a shot, you know? People forget about those moments, but I don’t. And I remember saying at the time, I feel like it’s these those type of moments were going gonna make me better in the end.”

What did it mean to get that contract extension?

Pritchard: “I feel like, the money aside, I feel like what helped me the most is like I knew I had four more years to prove myself and keep growing in the best league in the world. So that was the biggest thing for me is just to have the opportunity to play and keep showing what I’m capable of.”

You’ve said winning a title is most important. But what would it mean to join the Celtics’ long history of Sixth Men of the Year?

Pritchard: “Oh, it’d be an honor for sure. It’s something that every player does want. If they come off the bench, you do want that award.

“Now, I’m not hanging my head on it, whether I get it or not. I put myself in the best position to get it. But, end of the day, it means I helped my team off the bench, at the best of my ability, and I did my job. But definitely would be an honor and to put my name into history with those guys.”

Has it sunk in that you are an NBA record holder? You’ve done things no other bench player has ever done. 

Pritchard: “It hasn’t really. The coaches actually just put the ball in my locker. So I have that. I’ll give that to my wife, maybe she’ll I frame it or something, I don’t know. But hopefully I can build on that.”

What other mementos have you saved from your journey so far? 

Pritchard: “I’ve gotten certain people’s jerseys, have done that stuff. My parents really have a lot of it. Like, my dad got the jersey from the Blazers game, when me and D-White both had the 40 [points]. So I felt like that was a monumental moment for Boston history, too. And then the championship jersey.

Have you noticed our teams defending you differently now? 

Pritchard: “I think it changes game to game, but I definitely notice there’s certain times where I draw certain defenders, they’re better matchups.

“Sometimes they don’t leave my body or just not try to me get easy looks. Which I want because it’s a respect thing. And when you are a good player, they’re going to put the better defenders on you.”

Do you have a favorite Pritchard nickname or phrase? There’s been no shortage of them this season.

Pritchard: “My teammates, I think they like the, ‘Pritch Please.’ They say that a lot. So I feel like it’s cool, it’s catchy. I see it all over, even on away stadiums now. So it’s definitely cool.”

What is it like to see all the Payton Pritchard gear at the Garden?

Pritchard: “Just very appreciative to have the support of the people. I feel like I give a lot of communities the sense of hope, that with hard work anything is possible. So that’s what I at least want to give off. And I appreciate [the fan support].”

Jalen Brunson continues working his way toward a late-season return. 

The Knicks’ All-Star point guard has missed the last 10 games with a sprained right ankle suffered after landing awkwardly on a shot attempt in the closing minutes of an overtime loss to the Los Angles Lakers earlier this month. 

New York has gone an even 5-5 over that span, and his absence has certainly been felt.  

While Brunson hasn’t been cleared to return to practice just yet, head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters earlier this week that he’s “feeling a lot better” and has been able to do "more and more each day."  

Brunson himself said he’s excited about the progress he’s made during the latest episode of the Roomates Show podcast. 

“I’ve been back East since the LA game,” he said. “I’m feeling better, walking without the boot. Thibs said I’ve impressed recently. I’m just doing everything I can to get back to 100 percent. Doing things two, three times a day. Just working my way back.

"For the most part, I’m happy to see the progress with where I’m at, so I think that’s promising."

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported earlier this week that the 28-year-old captain has actually been progressing faster than initially anticipated -- though the team will continue taking things day-by-day to ensure that they don’t rush him back.

While Brunson is currently without a timeline for a return, he is expected to be reevaluated later this week, and Begley reports that there is no thought of him remaining sidelined for the rest of the regular season. 

Following Friday night's meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York has just nine games left. 

They face a brutally tough schedule the rest of the way, but have already guaranteed themselves a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference after clinching a playoff spot with the Hawks’ loss to the Heat on Thursday night.

As much as injuries hurt a team, they can also open up opportunities for otherwise bench-relegated players to step up. The Knicks witnessed this firsthand with Quentin Grimes’ rookie emergence and Isaiah Hartenstein’s breakout last year.

Now they appear to have found another diamond in the rough, their 34th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Tyler Kolek.

The 6-foot-1 guard dazzled at Marquette but up until recently, most of his professional playing time with has come with Westchester, only sporadically being subbed in during garbage time minutes with the Knicks.

This isn’t surprising, given head coach Tom Thibodeau’s commitment to winning over long-term goals and New York’s established depth at the guard spot in Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cameron Payne.

However, Kolek’s played close to 20 minutes in each of the last three games due to two of those guards being out -- and now all three will be absent for Friday's matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks -- setting the stage for Kolek to continue shining in increased minutes.

If he plays as well as he has, Kolek could earn himself a permanent rotation spot. 

In the 56 minutes he’s played over the last three games, Kolek’s recorded 24 assists and just one turnover -- a stellar playmaking performance for the first prolonged stretch of playing time of an NBA career. That equates to a 15.4 assists per-36 minutes pace, and an assist percentage of 46.2 percent, which would rank him first on the season, just above Trae Young. 

He’s made NBA history in his brief chance, becoming the first player to record eight assists and zero turnovers in less than 20 minutes off the bench in consecutive games, per Basketball-Reference.

Kolek is as pure a point guard as they come -- constantly looking to push the pace for easy chances, utilizing every available teammate to their strengths, pressuring the paint to open up perimeter looks, and passing absolute dots in every way you dream of. Pocket passes that zip between defenders in the pick-and-roll, quick touch passes as the defense is rotating, and cross-court bullets to the weak-side corner this Knicks offense is built to create but only realizes through Kolek. 

This makes him a natural fit with the starters, who are tremendous scorers off movement and assists but can get sluggish and entranced by hero ball. Kolek directs the traffic, keeps everybody engaged, rewards cuts and hits marksmen in their shooting pockets. 

The Knicks can use more of this play-style in general, currently ranking 18th in the league in assist percentage. New York boasting multiple high-level pass-dribble-shoot weapons means little if they over-emphasize the latter two.

While Kolek’s playmaking looks the part, it’ll take developments in the rest of his game to secure minutes once his teammates return to health. His scoring and defense haven’t come around yet, and will need to with the Knicks now relying on him as a part-time starter.

Kolek shot 2-of-10 from the field in these three games, and is sub-36 percent from the field and from three on the season. These aren’t big sample sizes, but teams will start going under and switching on his screens, forcing him to beat them without his passing.

In eight G-League games, Kolek put up underwhelming shooting stats as well -- except from the free throw line, where he eclipsed 90 percent. He was a solid shooter in college and had good touch around the rim, but the pros can be a tough leap for less athletic scorers like Kolek. 

Things should start turning around as Kolek gets more comfortable. He’s already able to get to the paint at will, and just needs to make the open ones from deep.

But, defensively, there are some things experience can’t make up for. Kolek’s stature does little to impede bigger inside finishers, though the Knicks have similar struggles with their other guards.

He’s otherwise shown good effort and balance on that end, but Thibodeau isn’t handing out participation trophies. He can easily be supplanted by Delon Wright, the Knicks’ next guard up, as he was late in Wednesday's loss to the Clippers. 

That’s all in Kolek’s hands. If he can remain an offensive engine and stand his ground defensively, he has the chance to lift this Knicks team at their most dire moment of the season health-wise, and cement himself as a rotation option for the playoffs.

Grizzlies fire head coach Taylor Jenkins with 9 games left in regular season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Memphis Grizzlies announced they have parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins.

Jenkins, 40, became Grizzlies head coach in 2019 after spending five seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks and one season as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He went 250-214 in the regular season with Memphis, making him the winningest head coach in franchise history, and guided the team to three playoff berths. He also finished second in NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2021-22.

Memphis is poised to make the playoffs once again in 2024-25. The team sits at 44-29, putting them in a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings despite the team battling injuries across the roster. The team has lost four of its last five games and is 8-11 since the All-Star break.

With just nine games remaining in the regular season, the Grizzlies will now look to different leadership.

“I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons,” Grizzlies president and GM of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership. I wish Taylor the very best going forward.”

This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

Grizzlies fire head coach Taylor Jenkins with 9 games left in regular season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Memphis Grizzlies announced they have parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins.

Jenkins, 40, became Grizzlies head coach in 2019 after spending five seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks and one season as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He went 250-214 in the regular season with Memphis, making him the winningest head coach in franchise history, and guided the team to three playoff berths. He also finished second in NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2021-22.

Memphis is poised to make the playoffs once again in 2024-25. The team sits at 44-29, putting them in a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings despite the team battling injuries across the roster. The team has lost four of its last five games and is 8-11 since the All-Star break.

With just nine games remaining in the regular season, the Grizzlies will now look to different leadership.

“I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons,” Grizzlies president and GM of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership. I wish Taylor the very best going forward.”

This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

Why Warriors' 2022 title was ‘sweetest' moment of Draymond's career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors star Draymond Green has experienced the highest of highs during his 13-year NBA career, but one moment stands apart from the rest.

Golden State shocked the NBA world when it defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals, and Green recently explained on “Dubs Talk” why it was the most rewarding moment from his time in the league.

“I think the sweetest moment for me was winning the championship in 2022,” Green told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Kerith Burke. “And the reason that was the sweetest moment for me was [that] I caught so much flak when [Kevin Durant] left. ‘You ran KD off, you’re an idiot.’ Like, it’s crazy that I caught flak for KD coming [to the Warriors]. ‘You cried to KD to get him to come here. You cried in the car. Go cry again.’ And then I caught flak for him leaving.

“And so with that, it was so deeply embedded in me that I wanted to prove that I can win again, because y’all are telling me I ruined this franchise because KD decided that he wanted to do something else with his life, that he wanted to live in a different city. He wanted a different challenge … and I catch flak for that, that [I] ruined the franchise. And so in saying that, I’m a competitor, so how do I shut all of those people up? You go win another championship. And so I think that was one of the biggest moments. Also, everybody saying, ‘Oh man, they’re done. They can’t do it again. It’s over.’

“To do that again, I’d say that’s one of the biggest moments.”

The Warriors built a dynasty thanks in part to Durant, winning two of their three NBA championships from 2015 to 2018 with Slim Reaper in the Bay. While many criticized Golden State for building a “super team” by signing Durant after their 2016 Finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Green also shouldered plenty of blame for Durant’s eventual departure in the summer of 2019 after a series of disagreements, culminating with a heated in-game exchange on Nov. 12, 2018.

There was plenty of disappointment — and losses — in the years after Durant, with NBA pundits and fans alike wondering if the Warriors ever would win again without him.

But in 2022 came another Larry O’Brien Trophy, and Steph Curry’s now-famous retort: “What they gonna say now?”

And for Green, that was the sweetest feeling.

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Draymond's faith in Warriors' title chances grows daily despite decreasing odds originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Two. That’s the number of opportunities Draymond Green believes the Warriors will have to win a fifth NBA Finals under coach Steve Kerr.

And the second chance, Green believes, has better odds.

“I think this year we have a good chance of winning,” Green said during a guest appearance on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dubs Talk” podcast.

“I think next year we’ll have an even better chance of winning.”

Ahem. Green turned 35 this month. Jimmy Butler III is six months older than Green. Stephen Curry is two years older than Green. The NBA is a young man’s league. The aging process is a relentless stalker, and undefeated. The Warriors have the oldest core in the NBA – and it will be relatively ancient in the spring of 2026.

Green’s rationale is that Golden State took an immediate leap when general manager Mike Dunleavy acquired Butler in February from the Miami Heat in a trade that sent Andrew Wiggins the other way. With very little time to get acclimated, the Warriors won seven of their first eight games with Butler. Even after consecutive losses at the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat this week, they’re 16-5 since Butler laced up his sneakers with them.

Next year? Well, a lot can happen between now and opening night in October.

“That’s more time together,” Green said. “That’s knowing each other. That’s having a training camp with Jimmy. And as we all know, an NBA roster is never the same from year to year. There’s going to be some tweaks, some changes. That’s just the business that we’re in. Those tweaks and changes, whatever they are as you proceed forward, will be built around, ‘How does this fit around Steph and Jimmy, right?’”

No matter how long Golden State’s postseason lasts, there will be changes. Curry, Butler and Green are under contract through next season. Buddy Hield, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski also are on the books. The Warriors plan to exercise team options for Quinten Post and Gui Santos.

Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II will be unrestricted free agents, and the Warriors are edging closer to a decision on the future of Jonathan Kuminga, who will become a restricted free agent this summer.

Green is placing his trust in Dunleavy to use the coming months to reshape the roster to better accommodate not only Curry, but also Butler.

“It allows Mike Dunleavy – who has been an incredible, incredible general manager – to go into the summer saying, ‘All right, I got Steph and Jimmy. I need to surround guys. Bring in some guys to surround [Curry], which we already have. I need to bring in some guys that also surround [Butler] well.’ So, the thinking process changes.

“I must say, I don’t think within the next eight months there’s going to be an extreme decline of either one of us three. And so, in saying that … I love our team. I don’t want anyone to be like, ‘Yo, Draymond don’t think this team got enough.’ That’s not that’s not what I’m saying.”

Exhibit A of Green’s belief in the current team is, he said, the guarantee made during the All-Star break, when he said the Warriors “will win the championship” this season. It was outrageous considering they were ninth in the Western Conference.

This was, went the general reaction, Draymond being Draymond.

Within two weeks, though, the Warriors climbed from ninth to sixth in the West. Moreover, they have since the break posted the second-best record in the West and the fourth-best record in the league. Their odds of reaching the Finals have taken a steep ascent.

But. Still.

Green’s faith comes from the postseason experience possessed by Butler, Curry and himself. The trio has played a combined 423 games, with 15 conference finals and 14 NBA Finals.

But NBA history is not in Green’s favor. No team with a three-man core averaging 35 years old or more has won it all. The 2011 Dallas Mavericks came closest, with Jason Kidd (38), Jason Terry (33) and Dirk Nowitzki (33) sliding just under the average.

To put this into context, the 2022 Warriors – with Klay Thompson, Curry and Green averaging just under 33 years of age – probably could not have beaten the Celtics without Wiggins, who was 27 and was as effective as anyone not named Curry.

These Warriors could hope to get such postseason impact from any one of the 20-somethings on the roster, but they can’t expect it. Maybe that will change in 2026.

“It’s always hard to win championships when you have midseason trades because it’s a hard adjustment,” Green said. “I think we’re doing as great a job as we can. I also think we’re going to win a championship.

“But in saying that, I still think our best year, our best chance to win a championship with this group will be next year. I don’t mean we’re not doing it this year.”

The Warriors have a lot of ground to cover beginning next month, even more after the ball tips off for next season.

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Draymond reflects ‘rock bottom' of Warriors career, strolls down hallway of mind originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green is a villain. A mentor. A bully. A charmer. He’s a basketball genius, a restless soul, a four-time NBA champion, a four-time NBA All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose unruly conduct last season kept him off the court for 21 games.

His spasms of disorder did more than that. The vehement events of the 2023-24 NBA season hurt Draymond, his family and, lastly, the Golden State Warriors. It forced him to check himself. To seek rehabilitation for the emotions behind his on-court violence.

And now, 14 months after returning from his last suspension, words are coming off Draymond’s tongue with the same passion and conviction with which he has played basketball for 13 seasons with the Warriors. The conversation is about life, and he is the tour guide for a reflective journey down the long and sometimes dark hallways of his mind.

“The bottom? Man. Oh man. How do you find the bottom?” Green says on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dubs Talk” podcast, which debuted Friday. “There’s been some moments where … Wow. Wow.

“The bottom, I would have to say, for me personally, the bottom was last year. And the reason that was the bottom is basketball is one thing. You can talk about basketball all you want. I really don’t care. I know what I bring to the basketball game. I know what I’m capable of. I know what’s going on. So that don’t really bother me.

“But last year, my character was under attack. Who I am as a human being was under attack.”

The tipping point came on Dec. 12, 2023, when Green whacked Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face in the third quarter of a Warriors-Suns game in Phoenix. That led to a suspension deemed “indefinite” because one month earlier, Green jumped Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert – whose arms were around Golden State’s Klay Thompson – from behind and put him in a modified chokehold. The Green-Gobert incident was a five-gamer, so the NBA felt it necessary to increase the suspension for Green’s strike on Nurkić.

Public reaction was swift and heavy with presumptions, with opinions undoubtedly prejudiced by Draymond’s shocking punch to the face of then-teammate Jordan Poole in October 2022. NBA head of basketball operations Joe Dumars, a longtime friend of Green, delivered the indefinite suspension, explaining that he wanted to see Draymond get himself mentally and emotionally “right” before coming back to the game.

As Green attended to his business, speculation and allegations were rampant. He heard and saw it. His wife, Hazel Renee, coped with it. His children, his extended family and friends all were in the uncomfortable position of trying to answer for the man they knew and care for or even love.

“I take pride in who I am as a human being,” Green says. “I take pride in being a stand-up guy. If I see you and walk past you, I’m going to say, ‘Hi.’ I take pride in just being a great person. For my character to be under attack, that bothered me to my core because the things that were being said isn’t an accurate depiction of me and who I am.

“So, I would say that was the bottom. I couldn’t play the game that I love. I couldn’t play the game the way that I love. And by the way, ‘He’s beating his wife at home. He’s beating his kids because look what he does on a basketball court.’ That’s crazy … to have to live through that.”

“But then, for my family to also have to live through that,” he adds, “that was kind of rock bottom for me. Like my wife opening her Instagram and [seeing] ‘I’m so sorry’ [comments]. ‘I know you’re getting beaten at home.’ Beaten?

“I’m the guy that when my wife is on one, I walk into the other room. I don’t even want to go back and forth like that. It’s not even in my demeanor. I think it’s because people watch me on the basketball court and my intensity. I am probably as non-confrontational as you going to find. I’m going the opposite way.”

How does this not touch the heart of anyone who has one? How does this not force anyone to face their worst characteristics and try to seek peace within?

Green 35, says, he “hates” confrontation off the court. On the court, he lives for it. His willingness to engage in competition, usually with bigger players, is part of the equation that makes him great. At 6-foot-6, he’s the best small big man in the NBA and probably has considered having that description tattooed on his chest.

There is no question that this season has revealed a less combustible Draymond than the player he was the previous two seasons. He recorded a league- and career-high 21 technical fouls in 2022-23 and served a one-game suspension for planting his foot on the chest of Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Kings. Green this season has been assessed 12 technical fouls, but there have been no suspensions. The Warriors are 35-23 when he plays, 6-8 when he does not.

“With help, I worked my way out of it,” Green says. “And I’m back from it. But that was rock bottom for me.”

The noise related to Green’s antics has quieted because they are fewer. The Warriors are happier. And Draymond, among the leaders in the Defensive Player of the Year race, is performing better with his emotions on simmer than when they boil over.

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