Where would Steph Curry be without Draymond Green, and vice versa?
Since the Warriors picked Green in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft, the duo has led the franchise to five trips to the Finals, three titles and the greatest regular season in league history. Now they’re into Year 8 of their partnership, despite having contrasting personalities.
“They’re fire and ice,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Saturday. “It’s like Borg/McEnroe. You’ve got two entirely different personalities. The fact that they work so well together, in some ways reflects that they each bring something so different to the team.”
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On July 5, 1980, the sporting world was captivated by the Wimbledon men’s singles final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The epic tennis match pitted two foes with opposing styles against one another -- the electric McEnroe and the stoic Borg -- resulting in Borg's fifth straight Wimbledon title. Curry and Green aren't rivals like the tennis icons were, but Kerr has a great point.
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Curry is in the 12th year of his career but still brings his trademark playful energy to every game and every practice. It appears to rub off on the rest of the team, which has developed a fun-loving profile during Curry’s tenure as the face of the franchise.
Meanwhile, the intense Green has naturally evolved into something as a player-coach, taking a key role in developing young teammates like rookie James Wiseman.
Golden State Warriors
“Where they’re alike is in their ability to compete at a high level, and to adapt and adjust, “Kerr said. “They’re both very smart players and they’ve learned a ton in their NBA careers. I like when they put their heads together because they’re both really, really smart and they both come from a different personality, a different place. That’s what makes them such a great pair.”
Like last season, the Warriors are searching for their new identity in 2020-21. No Klay Thompson. No Andre Iguodala. No Kevin Durant. Just inconsistent wings like Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr., and a smattering of unproven players.
Sure, it’s Kerr’s job to coach the team, but Curry and Green’s leadership will be bigger than ever this season.