Draymond Green Explains Why This Is ‘One of the Most Important Years’ of His Career

Once upon a time, Warriors forward Draymond Green and guard Chris Paul were sworn enemies.

“I don’t like (Chris Paul) at all, we don’t have a good relationship at all,” Green told former teammates Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on April 23, 2020. Paul was playing out his only year with the Thunder at the time.

Now, however, the duo has apparently set about mending their relationship as Golden State prepares for the 2024 season.

“I look at this as one of the most important years of my career,” Green told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk in a profile published Tuesday morning. “It’s not to redeem anything about Draymond. My goal is that we can help Chris Paul get his first championship.”

Paul is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history without a ring, having played in the Finals just once with the Suns in 2021. This is despite the fact he’s made the playoffs with each of the five teams for which he’s played—the New Orleans Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Oklahoma City and Phoenix.

Newly appreciative of his old rival’s skills, Green appears eager to get Paul over the hump as the Warriors try to shrug off a disappointing exit in the Western Conference semifinals at the hands of the Lakers.

“Of course you’re going to hate (Paul as an opponent). And if you don’t, guess what? You’ll lose to him,” Green said. “We’ve seen a bunch of guys lose to him as well.”