{"id":713050,"date":"2026-04-18T08:48:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T08:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713050\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T08:48:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T08:48:27","slug":"warriors-draymond-green-drops-blunt-statement-on-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713050\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors&#8217; Draymond Green Drops Blunt Statement on Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776502105_250_GettyImages-2267769198-e1775074176424.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors had two teams on his radar\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors had two teams on his radar at the trade deadline amid Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/golden-state-warriors\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> season is over. <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jalen-green\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalen Green<\/a> scored 36 points to lead the <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/phoenix-suns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Phoenix Suns<\/a> to a 111-96 win at Mortgage Matchup Center on Friday night, ending Golden State\u2019s playoff hopes and closing the book on a turbulent 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">For <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/draymond-green\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Draymond Green<\/a>, the final buzzer brought a question that has been hovering over him all season. What comes next?<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">He answered it without hesitation.<\/p>\n<p>What Draymond Said About His Future<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5890866\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5890866\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2269592966-e1775652793942.jpg\" alt=\"Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors had a lot to say about the NBA tanking problem.\" width=\"780\" height=\"440\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5890866\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Green was clear when the subject of retirement came up postgame.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">\u201cI\u2019m not retiring,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/anthonyVslater\/status\/2045374276879225143\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Green said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">He followed that with something that carried a different kind of weight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">\u201cHopefully I\u2019ve done enough to still be here,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/anthonyVslater\/status\/2045374276879225143\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Green said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The second quote said more than the first. Green is not walking away from basketball. Whether he walks away from the Warriors is a different conversation entirely, and one that will play out over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Green has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/10860\/draymond-green\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">$27.6 million player option for next season<\/a>. Despite being involved in trade deadline discussions earlier this season, he reiterated his desire to remain in Golden State. The option, the loyalty, and the unfinished business all point in the same direction. The decision ultimately rests with the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Draymond Green; \u201cI\u2019m not retiring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHopefully I\u2019ve done enough to still be here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Full Draymond soundbite on his future <\/p>\n<p>What This Season Asked of Green<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">This season tested Green in ways few could have anticipated. <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/stephen-curry\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stephen Curry<\/a> missed 27 consecutive games with a knee injury. <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jimmy-butler\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jimmy Butler<\/a> tore his ACL in January. The roster was held together with tape and determination for stretches of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Green played in all but four of the 27 games Curry missed. He could have coasted. He did the opposite, showing up every night as the defensive anchor and emotional engine of a team that had every reason to fold. In the Warriors\u2019 stunning 126-121 comeback win over the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Clippers\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/los-angeles-clippers\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"229712\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Clippers<\/a> on Wednesday, he held <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/kawhi-leonard\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/kawhi-leonard\/#career-stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">to two fourth-quarter points<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/draymond-green\/#career-stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">produced four steals<\/a>, and made two crucial late turnovers to seal the result.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/kawhi-leonard\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a> said afterward that Green was a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NBA\/status\/2044669875176550523\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Hall of Fame defender<\/a>\u201d and that it was \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NBA\/status\/2044669875176550523\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">hard to even get shots up<\/a>.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/golden-state-warriors\/warriors-steve-kerr-curry\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Steve Kerr<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MikeAScotto\/status\/2044651400404037738\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">called him the best defender he has ever seen in his life<\/a>. Those are not small endorsements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Friday night was harder. The Suns swarmed Curry, Green could not generate enough offensively, and the season ended on the road in Phoenix. It was a disappointing finish to a night that had promised more.<\/p>\n<p>Final Word for the Warriors<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Green finishing his 14th <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"NBA\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"229711\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NBA<\/a> season and immediately ruling out retirement says everything about where his head is at. He is not done. He wants to be back. A Warrior is what he wants to remain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The organization now has decisions to make. Kerr\u2019s future is uncertain. Curry\u2019s extension conversations are coming. The roster needs rebuilding around a core that has proven it can still compete when healthy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Green made his position clear on Friday night. The ball is in the organization\u2019s court.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/keithwatkinsnba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keith Watkins<\/a> Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/keithwatkinsnba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Keith Watkins<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Warriors\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors had two teams on his radar at the trade deadline&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":692537,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3786],"tags":[7,479,164,4025,4024,6,255],"class_list":{"0":"post-713050","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golden-state-warriors","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-golden-state","10":"tag-golden-state-warriors","11":"tag-goldenstate","12":"tag-goldenstatewarriors","13":"tag-nba","14":"tag-warriors"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116424849684759258","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=713050"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713050\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=713050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=713050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=713050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}