With the Golden State Warriors beating the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, 116-113, the team is having some early success as they are 5-3, led by Stephen Curry and the emergence of rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. As shenanigans surrounding Warriors star Draymond Green will always be a talking point in the sports world, analyst Stephen A. Smith would share how crucial the veteran is to the team.

Speaking on his self-titled show, Smith would emphasize how Golden State is going to “need” all of its “horses” if they want any success, as that includes Curry, Green, Lendeborg, Jimmy Butler, and Brandon Podziemski. Honing in on Green, Smith expresses how the 36-year-old is “savvy” and a “true veteran,” emphasizing how “important” he is to the Warriors, going as far as to say that the team “ain't winning” without him.

“And if you are the Golden State Warriors, you need all your horses. You need Podziemski. You need Curry. You need Draymond. You need Jimmy Butler. You need Lendeborg. You need everybody. You can't afford a body to spare, especially a savvy, experienced, championship-tried, tested, and true veteran like Draymond Green. He's that important,” Smith said.

“The time to have that discussion with Draymond is now because it's about him recognizing, ‘Yo, you're that important,'” Green continued. “This ain't just about your teammate saying…this is about the world really realizing and appreciating how important Draymond Green is. When Jimmy Butler, when Steph Curry, with Lendeborg, with Podziemski, and anybody else, Golden State ain't winning without Draymond Green.”

The Golden State Warriors need YOU!!

There's a BIGGER conversation to be had here! Catch everything I have to say on YouTube! https://t.co/iSpbEGJtUr pic.twitter.com/UHfz7IXGj7

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 3, 2026

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So far this season, Green is averaging 3.2 points, five rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field through six games. With the Warriors at 5-3, the team next takes on the Miami Heat on Thursday.