Green used his longtime teammate's story to put the pre-draft noise into perspective.
With the 2026 NBA Draft just two days away, the biggest talking point heading into draft night has been former Kansas guard Darryn Peterson's choice to skip a pre-draft workout with the Utah Jazz.
Peterson reportedly met only with the Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 overall pick, and declined to visit Utah at No. 2 while making it clear he believes he should be the first name called.
The move sparked plenty of debate about whether the Jazz should hold it against him, but four-time NBA champion Draymond Green is not worried about it at all.
Green Points to Curry as Proof
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, the Warriors forward pointed to his longtime teammate Stephen Curry as the perfect example of why pre-draft preferences almost never shape how things turn out.
"They [Utah Jazz] don't give a sh*t... ask Steph Curry. He did not work out for the Warriors and asked them not to draft him... 18 years later he's been with that team the whole time," Green said.
Green, who averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists across 68 games this past season, has watched that exact story play out from the inside over more than a decade alongside Curry in Golden State.
He also made it clear that if the Jazz want Peterson when their pick comes around, they will take him no matter what.
Curry's Story Speaks for Itself
The comparison is a good one because Curry went through almost the exact same thing back in 2009.
He famously preferred the New York Knicks during that draft cycle and worked out for teams around Golden State while asking the Warriors not to select him, but they took him seventh overall anyway.
That gamble turned into one of the greatest player-franchise runs in NBA history, with Curry winning four championships, two MVPs, and earning 12 All-Star selections while spending all 17 of his NBA seasons with the same team.
Even at 38, he put up 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game this past season while shooting 39.3 percent from three on a Warriors squad that went 37-45.
What It Means for Peterson and Utah
Green's point is pretty simple.
Front offices already have years of film, analytics, interviews, and scouting reports on every top prospect long before any pre-draft workout happens, and a skipped visit is not going to change what they think.
Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds during his lone season at Kansas and is still seen as one of the top players in the class despite cramping issues that held him to just 24 games.
The Jazz finished 22-60 this past season and hold the No. 2 pick, while the Wizards are reportedly still undecided between Peterson and BYU's AJ Dybantsa at the top.
If Washington passes on Peterson, Utah will face a big choice, and if recent draft board movement is any sign, the Jazz will not let a missed workout stop them from taking the guy they believe in.
