The Golden State Warriors have been navigating one of the more difficult stretches in recent franchise memory. Stephen Curry has missed 26 consecutive games with patellofemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee, last suiting up on January 30.
Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in January and is done for the season. Moses Moody suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon. The Warriors' injury pile-up has been relentless, leaving Draymond Green as the last veteran standing in a rotation filled with young players still learning what it means to compete in the NBA.
Through it all, Steve Kerr has been watching closely. His assessment of how Green has handled an unfair situation was direct and genuine.
"I'm really proud of him," Kerr said. "It's not an easy position to be in. He's such a proud guy. So many guys have been injured and out, and he's really carried a heavy burden. But he's handled it beautifully. He's playing big minutes, his defense is still elite."
Mar 23, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn ImagesGreen Has Been the Constant in a Chaotic Season
The praise from Kerr didn't come out of nowhere. While the franchise has cycled through absence after absence, Green has been the one reliable constant, logging big minutes, anchoring the defense, and doing the unglamorous work that doesn't always show up in a box score.
The burden Kerr referenced is layered. Without Curry on the floor, defenses don't have to respect the pick-and-roll the same way. The gravity Curry creates for everyone around him disappears, and no one feels that void more than Green.
Kerr acknowledged as much earlier this season, noting the two-man game between the franchise pillars has been the bread and butter of Golden State's offense for over a decade. Strip that away and Green has to find ways to stay impactful without the system working in his favor.
He's managed to do it. And Kerr's comments reflect genuine appreciation for the way Green has gone about his business during one of the harder seasons of his career.
Curry's Return Is Getting Closer
The timing of Kerr's praise is notable. We now know that Curry will be returning to the court soon, though it may be too little too late for this team.
However, Green himself addressed the situation on his podcast, pushing back hard on any talk of a shutdown. With the Warriors still clinging to a play-in position in the Western Conference, the window matters.
Green made clear that Curry knows it too, and wants to be out there competing for it. With Steph back before the regular season ends, it will give Golden State some type of shot at making some noise in the postseason.
Until then, they'll keep leaning on Draymond to set the tone every night. Based on Kerr's words, he's been doing exactly that.