Father Time is inevitable. Some can hold it off for an extended period, while others eventually have to give in no matter how hard they resist. Draymond Green admits that the thought has crossed his mind.
He will turn 36 in less than a month and the position he plays demands a high level of physicality. The Golden State Warriors forward feels like he is defying expectations, even his own, as he initially thought he would start dealing with career decline two years ago.
However, something changed in his mentality, and now he believes he can continue playing through 2028.
“I feel great. I feel like I can go another two to four years. I think for me, I always want to try to compete at an elite level. If I can’t do that, then it’s not as fun,” he said in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports.
“But what I will say is that I have more left than I thought I would at this point. So as the years have gone by, the outlook on when I’ll be done has changed. I thought I’d get to Year 12 and that I’d be breaking down. But by the time I got to Year 12, I felt like I was still getting better.”
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Another thing that changed his view about the tail-end of his career is the way he takes care of his body, thanks to the people that remind him about maintenance and getting healthy.
Green has given NBA fans a glimpse into his thoughts about his NBA career in recent weeks. He previously discussed the possibility of being traded by the Golden State Warriors, the only team he has played for. This came at a time when the Warriors were reportedly looking to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
He accepted the possibility of being sent away by the only team he has ever played for and acknowledged that if it ended, there would be a lot for him to celebrate.
Related: Warriors’ Trade for Kristaps Porzingis Includes Draymond Green Development