Steve Kerr sends public warning, demand to Draymond Green ahead of Warriors’ ‘interesting’ season

A lot is set to change for the Golden State Warriors entering the 2026-27 NBA season. Although Stephen Curry and Draymond Green remain the team's two longest-tenured players and Steve Kerr ultimately returned on a new two-year contract despite contemplating retirement, the Warriors will have a new look after going 37-45 this past year.

Among the many changes in store for a roster very similar to the 2025-26 version are Green's leadership and his role on the court.

No matter what, Green will always be an emotional, vocal leader for the Warriors. His fire and passion are what have fueled this organization to four different championship runs over the last decade, and Kerr will be the first to admit that without Draymond, the Warriors aren't who they are now.

“I will say forever — we don't have a single championship without him,” Kerr recently said of Green on the Tom Tolbert Show. “The guy is that impactful on winning.”

Green is back with the Warriors on a new one-year, $27.6 million contract after initially opting out of his player option for the same amount.

The veteran forward was willing to give his team some cap flexibility this offseason to potentially pursue superstars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, yet those paths never truly presented themselves, so Green came back on the one-year deal he would've had if he originally opted in.

Now, Green enters his 15th season with the franchise as a 36-year-old who will be at the forefront of Golden State's plans to change from what they were over the last year.

“This is going to be an interesting year, a transition year of sorts. And we're going to do some things differently,” Kerr continued. “He and Steph obviously have this great rapport. We're not going to take away from that, but he's going to have to adapt a little bit, and it's probably going to be a little frustrating at times. So, I'm going to need his patience, too.

“I'm going to just say that publicly because now, in reverse, he will read that or hear that and know that privately, that's really what I'm telling him.”

How Steve Kerr plans to utilize Draymond Green differently

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When the Warriors' head coach did a 180 and ultimately decided now was not the right time to walk away from the franchise, he discussed multiple changes that needed to happen alongside owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. While everyone agrees that Green is still a vital part of the team's chances at success, his decisions on the court need to improve.

“We have to cut back on the turnovers. I want him shooting the three, and when he's open when he shoots the three, he may not be a super high percentage shooter, but possessions are good for us when he shoots because, number one, it's worth three. Number two, we get offensive rebounds. Number three, there's a flow to the game that has to happen that someone's open, and they shoot it.

“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.”

Last season, the Warriors averaged 15.7 turnovers per game, the third-worst mark in the league, leading only the Brooklyn Nets (15.8) and Portland Trail Blazers (17.3). In terms of Green's individual stats, he has never been known for being an elite perimeter-shooting threat, but during his prime years and the golden era for the Warriors, his 3-point shooting was vital.

During Golden State's first title run in 2015, Green averaged 4.2 perimeter shots per game, which is still the most he's averaged in a single season. He was again aggressive hunting 3-point opportunities during the 2017 and 2018 championship runs, both times helping the Dubs be a force on the offensive glass as well.

Change is needed for the Warriors to evolve and potentially regain their championship pedigree near the end of what has been a legendary run for Curry, Green, and Kerr. That is why the head coach is already sending a message to Green before the start of the 2026-27 season, as his commitment and willingness to buy into all of these changes set the standard for everyone else on the roster.

Even though there will still be wild passes and antics on the court from Green this upcoming year, expect to see a different version of him, one that is very reminiscent of the Draymond Green who helped lead the Warriors to four titles.