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During the 2015-16 season, Draymond Green, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson led the Golden State Warriors to a 73-9 campaign. They reset the NBA record set by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls during the 1995-96 season.
On the Paul George podcast, the former Defensive Player of the Year winner recounted the sacrifice he had to make to help his team:
(2:01:40 Mark)
•
“I remember getting hit in the head by Joe Engels. I went up for a loose ball and I got knocked down. That might be five games left in the regular season. I was concussed as hell and I didn’t tell anyone. If I’m in any of these games, we might not get That record (regular season)…. So, I played through it.
“We always talk about ‘managing loads’ with the amount of s**t you’ve played through, we’ve played through that year to get that crazy.”
The game Draymond Green referred to was the Golden State Warriors game against the Utah Jazz on March 30, 2016. Golden State won 103-96 in overtime.
After the game, Green spoke to reporters and said this after the Warriors improved their record to 68-7:
“That’s playoff-style basketball there, coming out with a win when you’re probably playing C, that says a lot about our team. (The record) is something we want to do, we’ve talked about. It’s no secret.
It would be great, but we have to worry about getting better every night. I think if we worry about it, the wins will take care of themselves.”
The Golden State Warriors stumbled 5-2 in their next seven games to narrowly match the record. Draymond Green played 81 games that season, the most on the team. The Dubs had 11 players see action in at least 65 games, the most during their five-year run to the NBA Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers spoiled the historic regular season run of Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors, despite a mind-boggling run to the playoffs, showed weaknesses in the postseason. They fell into a 3-1 hole to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the OC Thunder before rallying for the win to secure another NBA Finals appearance.
After the Warriors took a 3-1 lead over the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, things fell apart. Draymond Green was suspended in Game 5 after accumulating flagrant foul points. The Warriors collapsed in what is considered the biggest upset in NBA history.
Draymond Green played a great Game 7 but fell just short as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala.
Here’s what Green said about that loss:
(1:56:56 Mark)
“When I look back, it’s the greatest what if of my life. What if Andre (Iguodala)’s shot wasn’t blocked? If the shot wasn’t blocked, we’d win and I’m the MVP in the Finals. It’s like a sweet and salty flavor I could ask for.”
“My Game 7 could have been talked about forever… I dealt with it, in the end, I got what I deserved.”
Also read: Draymond Green says he would have been the Finals MVP if the Warriors hadn’t lost to LeBron James and the Cavs in 2016 – ‘greatest joke of my life’
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