Draymond Green says Warriors learned that a championship, not making history, is all that matters
The Warriors are two games away from making history, but Green said a championship is “really the only history we need."
Draymond Green learned last year that focusing on the history books wasn't as important as winning a championship. Now, he just wants his team to win, not etch their names in the NBA’s lore.
The Golden State Warriors are not strangers to making history. Just last year, the Warriors won a record 73 games, but blew a 3-1 lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals.
This year, the Warriors have a chance to make history again — with two more wins, they’d become the first team to sweep the NBA Playoffs. But Green learned his lesson from focusing on history over simply finishing the job:
Asked Draymond Green if GSWs circled 16-0 as a goal. "Naw, we made that mistake by circling 73 and worrying about the wrong thing before...
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) June 6, 2017
Green said a championship is “really the only history we need.” Last year, though, Green said that Golden State was "absolutely" aiming for the 73-win record.
Draymond Green on 73 wins: "I’m not going to shy away from saying we want the record. Absolutely we want it, and we’re going after it."
— Scott Cacciola (@ScottCacciola) March 20, 2016
Indeed, the Warriors won 73 games and cruised all the way to the NBA Finals for another showdown against the LeBron James-led Cavaliers. Golden State got off to a 2-0 lead in the series, but lost four of the remaining five games, giving Cleveland its first NBA championship. Green played well during the series, but he let his emotions get the best of him, as he served a Game 5 suspension due to racking up four flagrant fouls in the postseason.
This year, however, with another 2-0 over Cleveland, Green said that chasing the record was a mistake. Before this season began, Green told ESPN that team’s goal is to clinch the No. 1 seed and win a championship.
“I think there definitely may be bumps in the road; it's not going to be all great like a lot of people think it is. And some people think it isn't. I know it's going to take some time for us to adjust. I'm looking forward to that. A lot of people think if we even start 19-6, the world is coming to an end.”
Based off Green’s recent comments, it looks like he learned to just focus on winning rather than making history. In fact, even if Golden States does go 16-0, Green would just focus on the championship itself.
"If we were able to do that, I don't think I'd say 'We were the only team to go 16-0,'" Green said. "I'd say 'We won the championship.'"