Draymond Green is 34 years old and is entering the later stages of his NBA career. He has been a bruiser for the Warriors, doing a lot of his damage on the defensive end, and his role as the enforcer has taken a toll on his body.
"My trainer asked how my body feels, and I said I feel good. He was like so you are 100 percent? And I was like, I will never be 100 percent," said Green. "That will never happen for me, but within reason of 13 years of basketball, I feel great. You try to let your body recover as much as you can, but after all the wear and tear, I don't think you will ever see 100 percent again."
Green made the NBA All-Defensive Team as recently as the 2022-23 season, and his offensive production has not dropped off. His 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6 assists last year are right in line with his career numbers.
The Warriors missed the playoffs last season, which could have been a positive for the team's veteran players. After years of deep playoff runs, Golden State finally got an entire offseason of rest to recover for the task ahead.
"Mentally, I feel great, physically I feel great. The time off to get away from the game of basketball and have a break after the many years we have been doing this is never too much if a bad thing," said Green.
The expectations for this team vary depending on who you ask, but Green is more than confident they can return to form and contend for a title. As the team's emotional leader, the former Defensive Player of the Year is again one of the most essential pieces of the puzzle.
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