Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (left) with head coach Steve Kerr against the Phoenix Suns during the closing seconds of the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (left) with head coach Steve Kerr against the Phoenix Suns during the closing seconds of the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Golden State Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, recently appeared on the Tom Tolbert Show, where he discussed his changed expectations for Draymond Green for the 2026-27 season.
“We have to cut back on the turnovers. I want him shooting the three when he’s open. When he shoots a three, he may not be a super high-percentage shooter, but possessions are good for us when he shoots,” Kerr said.
“Because, number 1, it’s worth three. Number 2, we get offensive rebounds. Number 3, there’s a flow to the game that has to happen: if someone is open and they shoot it, the game keeps moving.”
Draymond Green finished the 2025-26 season averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 41.8% from the field and 32.6% from behind the three-point line.
He is not usually a threat from three-point range but can make his opponents pay when they leave him wide open. But this was when Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody were healthy for most of the season.
Many of the changed expectations for Draymond Green also stem from Butler and Moody’s injuries. Since they couldn’t make any significant roster changes, veterans like Draymond Green are expected to fill the gaps.
“So he’s probably gonna, you know, be in, um, and I’ve told him about, you know, we’ve talked. I went to his house maybe a month ago in LA, and we sat, had lunch, had a great conversation, and talked about these things.”
“He knows there’s going to be some changes, and he’s always going to be himself. There’s going to be good and bad that comes with that, and we’re okay with that,” Kerr further added.
For context, 2025-26 could have been the last time Steve Kerr coached Draymond Green on the Warriors. Kerr was on an expiring contract, and Draymond Green had an upcoming player option.
So when their tenure became likely to end, their issues began to surface. From a public fight to Draymond Green’s remarks saying Steve Kerr held him back from realizing his true potential.
“Like, it doesn’t mean we’re thrilled with every single thing he says, but I think my job is to try to help him be the best version of himself as a player,” Kerr said, while subtly responding to Draymond Green’s claims.
“And sometimes that might include, you know, ‘Hey, maybe let’s pull back on this thing or that thing.’ Yeah. And that’s a really hard, hard, hard thing to pull off with Dray because he is who he is,” Kerr concluded.
After nearly ending his time with the Warriors, Steve Kerr decided to sign a two-year extension with the team, while Draymond Green also signed a one-year extension. So it now boils down to them putting aside what seem to be their personal differences for the common good.
Steve Kerr Candidly Addresses Warriors’ Lack Of Offseason Moves
In simple terms, if the Warriors could not find help externally, they will have to adapt internally to make up for the lost depth, especially in scoring.
But beyond Green, Kerr seems confident that the rest of the Warriors roster is also built well enough for an above-average start to the regular season before Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody hopefully return in the second half of 2026-27.
“Look, we did the best we could to put together the roster. I think Yaxel is going to help quite a bit. He’s a really good player. He’s older. He’s mature. Watching him work out with our guys, he’s going to help us,” Steve Kerr explained.
“Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski these guys are going to help us. Georges Niang, Brandon Williams, new signees- nothing earth-shattering, but really good players who can play a lot of minutes. So, I think our depth is the answer.”
“We’re going to have to rely on our whole roster, including our two-way players at times, and fortunately, I do feel really good about the guys we have who have kind of filled out the back end of the roster, and I think they can help us hold down the fort until Jimmy and Moses get back in the second half of the year,” Kerr concluded.
Golden State’s lack of offseason moves initially added a cloud of uncertainty over Stephen Curry’s future. But Curry seems committed to retiring in the Bay Area, whether or not they contend for a championship.
The Warriors will need their veteran core to lead the way because Draymond Green and Steve Kerr are both committed to staying in Golden State. Although injuries have complicated their plans, Kerr thinks the team’s internal depth will keep them afloat until Butler and Moody return, giving the roster another opportunity to contend.