San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Pachulia remembers ex-teammates fondly
DETROIT — Pistons center Zaza Pachulia crashed one of the coaches’ meetings this week to share his inside knowledge of the Warriors’ system.
It was quite the advantage for Detroit: In his two years with Golden State, Pachulia, 34, started 127 games and won two NBA titles. Along the way, Pachulia came to understand that, to beat the Warriors, a team must have near flawless execution.
Pachulia signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the Pistons after Golden State decided this past summer to go younger with its center rotation. Telling Pachulia that the team wanted to go a different direction was difficult for head coach Steve Kerr, who had come to appreciate the big man’s leadership and basketball IQ.
“That conversation was not an easy one because of how much he’s meant to our team,” Kerr said. “He’s a pro. He understands how this league works. He understands the dynamics. We’ve had a lot of young guys who play the 5, and we needed them to take the next step.”
As Andre Drummond’s backup in Detroit, Pachulia entered Saturday averaging 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 12.7 minutes. His contributions, however, extend beyond the box score. A master at setting screens and finding the open man, Pachulia has settled in as a valued mentor for his younger teammates.
In recent days, Pachulia has texted several of his old friends with the Warriors. It is the relationships he built, not necessarily the championships he won, that stand out most for him from his two seasons with Golden State.
“It was an experience that you can’t buy,” said Pachulia, who will receive his 2017-18 championship ring when the Pistons play at Oracle Arena on March 24. “It’s priceless. The relationships that I built with guys, that’s going to help me on and off the court.”
Injury update: Forward Draymond Green, who grew up less than 90 miles away from Detroit in Saginaw, Mich., missed his homecoming game Saturday because of a sprained right toe.
“I hope to be back during this road trip,” said Green, who has missed the past eight games because of the toe issue. “I had planned for possibly being back by Detroit, and it hasn’t really gone according to plan for me.” Forward Alfonzo McKinnie (sore right foot) also sat out his eighth straight game Saturday.
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.