How LeBron influenced Draymond’s decision to re-sign with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green, similar to one of his longtime Warriors teammates, considered a fresh start elsewhere but unlike Klay Thompson, ultimately decided to stay with the only NBA franchise he’s ever known.
Before Green, a first-time free agent, decided to return to Golden State in June 2023, the veteran forward flirted with the idea of joining the Memphis Grizzlies, who offered him a more lucrative contract than Golden State.
However, as Green explained on the latest episode of “The Warner House” podcast with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, his decision to stay with the Warriors was, in part — and perhaps ironically — influenced by Los Angeles Lakers superstar and close friend LeBron James.
“The first piece of advice he gave me, and there are millions of them,” Green said of the advice he’s received from James over the years. “…but the one that stands out to me the most, more than anything, was when I came to an inflection point of do I leave the Warriors or do I [sign with the Grizzlies]?
“And when I made that decision, we were actually sitting together. We were in Paris at Fashion Week and I’m having these conversations on the phone. He’s sitting at the table, I have to answer the phone for Rich. [Paul]talking to Mike Dunleavy, talking to Joe Lacob and he’s right there taking it all in.”
James offered Green honest advice, which he took to heart and ultimately made a decision he believed was best for him.
“And so I asked him I was like ‘Bron, what would you do?’ Because on the table, I have from Memphis [a three-year, $105 million contract],” Green shared. “I just signed [a four-year, $100 million deal] with the Warriors. So there’s a big money difference, no state taxes in Tennessee, a big money difference.
“And I talk to Bron about it and he kind of says it’s hard to pass up the money, but he keeps going back to everything Golden State means to me, everything I’ve done there. And in the end, his advice was more like ‘You just did something so special there, you have a chance to go on there and keep doing it why can’t you go to Memphis and do great things and you can maybe be the missing piece to them doing something? special, but is it that special , how did you all do?’
Green appreciated the advice not only because it came from a friend, but also a current Pacific Division rival who has a history of losing to Golden State on the biggest stage and would certainly benefit from the breakup of the Warriors’ trio of Green, Thompson and Steph Curry. up
“And that’s just something that stood out to me the most, because that’s also someone who, in what’s special that we did, a lot of it was on the wrong side of,” Green explained. “And to give that perspective in those moments, regardless of which side you were on during it, that meant a lot to me. As someone who had something in the palm of her hand, left it and then came back to pick it up, that’s a different take on anything, that’s always the thing that stands out the most for me because that was such a turning point in my life.”
Although Green would remain in the Western Conference with another playoff-caliber team if he joined the Grizzlies, James knew what the right move was for his longtime friend and rival.
Even if it meant the core of one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties would remain intact for the foreseeable future.
