‘I Can Shoot the Sh** Out of the Ball’: Draymond Green Reveals His Offensive Mindset
Draymond Green’s impact in a game often goes way beyond what’s shown solely in the box score, but if we are talking numbers, the three-time NBA champion is currently shooting a career-high 60 percent from three and 59 percent from the field. The last season that mirrored such production was in 2015-2016 when Green shot 38.8 percent from deep.
“The shot feels pretty good,” Green said via The Athletic. “I think when you go so long without shooting, it’s a mental hurdle you have to get over. I’ll say that’s where I am. But I can shoot the s**t out the ball. I know that.”
With Stephen Curry embarking on an MVP-caliber start to the season with 28.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, alongside the career-high production of Jordan Poole (14.0 points, 4.0 dimes, 2.7 boards per game), Green says his mindset is to be “aggressive” and take the shots when they’re there.
“Assertive,” he added about his mindset. “When a lane is there, take the lane. When a layup is there, take the layup. When a shot is there, take the shot. Not overthinking too much. Be who I can be.”
During the Kevin Durant years, Green was rarely called upon to take and make shots from deep. And the few that he did, affected his percentages drastically, which he says further hindered his confidence:
“Yeah, you don’t use it, and all of a sudden I’m taking one 3 every three games, and if I miss it, my percentages go to shit,” Green said. “Before you know it, in 10 games, I’m 0-for-7, my percentage has gone to hell, and then that can f**k with your confidence.”
Green is currently averaging 9.3 points, 8.7 boards, 7 assists along with 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. If his shot has returned to the level that the six games thus far have suggested, the Golden State Warriors just got a whole lot scarier.
The Warriors are currently in second place in the Western Conference, with a 5-1 record. They play the Hornets on Wednesday.