Green is saying all the right things

This may be Draymond Green’s last chance, and as expected, the astute, intelligent but troubled Golden State Warriors forward said all the right things as he nears a return to action with his team on the brink of collapse and its dynasty nearing an end.

Green hasn’t played since Dec. 12, when he swung and hit Phoenix’s Yusuf Nurkic with his right arm, the latest in a series of violent on-court incidents for Green that prompted an indefinite suspension from the NBA, mandatory therapy, and some soul-searching.

You expected Green to be more apologetic and remorseful this time because he finally realized there is a problem.

“No. 1 is my family, my friends, those close to me. You know, in going through this, you realize how many people is affected, just through the whole process,” he said. “And so I think that’s a big deal. I have children and you want to make sure they see the right thing.

“I needed a break just from everything. One of the best things in the world for me was not waking up the next day like, all right, I’ve got to go get this workout in, I’ve got to go get a lift in, I’ve got to go do this. It was wonderful waking up, like nope, I have an 8month-old, I have a 3-year-old, 7-yearold, a 9-year-old. It was wonderful waking up to them and being home when they wake up and indulging in that process.

“So I didn’t touch a basketball for the first 10 days, and then I started working again. Then it felt good to get back in the gym. After I sat with some of my thoughts, and I think in going back after 10 days, it was refreshing to go get a workout in. But it didn’t feel like a routine. It didn’t feel like I was jumping right back into the revolving door, if you will, just starting back spinning. I was like, no, I’m going to go here today and I’m going to get some shots up. That was therapeutic in itself. You never realize how stressful this job is until you no longer have that stress.”

The NBA community will monitor Green’s return closely because he has been so defiant over the years. It was always somebody else’s fault. He was prompted to punch Jordan Poole. The reason why he put a chokehold on Rudy Gobert was he was defending a teammate. The league was out to get Green. He was miscast as a villain and was always a victim.

“If you put someone in position to have to deal with things, and it’s not just my kids, but as far as my kids do go, if you let them see you [expletive] up, then you’ve got to let them see you make it right. You’ve got to let them see your growth,” Green said. “You’ve got to let them see you take ownership. Can’t just run and hide. And although throughout my time, I wanted to run and hide, I considered retiring. That’s running and hiding. Regardless of what drive those feelings that would be in that situation, running and hiding, because guess what, you’re not really leaving on your terms. You’re running from something.

“So I think then you start talking about youth and not youth. Adults struggle with accountability. I do sometimes. And I’ve never been a me guy. It’s not all about me. So in a situation like this, can I help someone else grow? If I help one person grow, incredible.

Great. Because that leads us all to a better place.”

The Warriors want to make it work with Green. He signed a four-year, $100 million extension in the offseason. Even after he punched Poole, the Warriors essentially chose him, moving Poole to the Wizards for Chris Paul. But the Warriors’ patience with Green has grown thin, especially since the team has played horribly of late. The Warriors were embarrassed Wednesday at home by the Pelicans, losing by 38 points.

Green said he’s made mistakes in the past, but this suspension prompted serious reflection and self-assessment. He’s saying the right things right now.

“If I can help one person grow from my shortcomings, my failures, you want people to love when you’re doing something great, right? You want people to go crazy when you’re doing something great and you want to feel that love. Don’t run from it when it ain’t so great,” he said. “My goal is that a lot of people can learn from it and yeah, my goal is most importantly to grow, and I think if I can show growth in a position — there’s a responsibility that comes with the positions that we’re in, and I’ve always been one to say, that’s your business. It ain’t really my business. But the reality is there is a responsibility, and to whom much is given, much is required.

“So I think allowing the world to see that there’s growth out there for everyone, and your growth may not be the growth that I need, but it’s all relative. And sliding the curtain back and letting everybody take a peek, I let everybody take a peek when it wasn’t right. So, on full display in front of the world. Don’t try to hide now. There’s a stage for you to allow people to see growth, and because I’m so dedicated to growing, I don’t mind you taking a peek because I know ultimately what I want the result to be, and I’ll probably mess up along the way, and that’s all a part of growing. There’s no limit in your path to growing. If you find a straight line to anything, come at me as fast as you can tear it back down, that’s just not the reality.”

If Green returns to form as one of the league’s best defensive players and a team leader, he could set a positive example for younger players who may be more open to seek help for emotional problems. Green is not the only NBA player who has anger and emotional issues.

“I’ve always been quite an open book. Why start running and hiding now?” he said. “So when you sit back, it’s like, yeah, you do need the time. But I don’t lose sight of the people you’re screwing along the way, you know, and so I think accepting what the league handed down was the easy part, from a personal standpoint. But from a team standpoint, from an organizational standpoint, I care about people. And so just to know the people I’m screwing along the way, that part sucks. And by the way, that feeling didn’t go away. That’s currently still here. And so the only way that I can be better and make that right is to be better moving forward.

“It’s urgent from a professional standpoint because I wasn’t hurt. At least my body wasn’t hurt. My mind was hurting. My feelings were hurt. But it wasn’t like some injury forced me off the court. It’s very urgent because I’ve cost my team enough. I’ve cost this organization enough. And so it’s not a team for me to just come back and be like, all right, I’m going to take my time when I can. I’m like, all right, you caused this yourself. You don’t get the grace.”