Golden State is relishing in the offseason, using the added time to recharge, get healthy, and refocus on reminding the rest of the league what awaits them when the Warriors return back to the court. After five straight NBA Finals appearances, with the total number of added playoff games amounting to an extra season worth of playing time, perhaps there’s a silver lining in Golden State taking some time off. 

But for Warriors fandom on social media? They take no time off, granted, maybe they’re not allowed such a luxury when NBA Twitter loves to discuss all things Golden State, even when they’re not in the playoff bubble. So naturally, when there’s a topic of discussion surrounding the Warriors, Dub Nation is ready for the rebuttal. 

But what happens when the challenger on the other side of the dispute happens to be one of their own? What if that individual happens to be a Defensive Player of the Year, three-time NBA champion, and staple of the Warriors dynasty? 

Yes, the individual in question that has ruffled a few feathers within Dub Nation has been Draymond Green, only he hasn’t accomplished such a feat by taking shots at the Warriors directly. Rather, it’s been his unequivocal support for LeBron James, the player that has been arguably Golden State’s number one challenger throughout the dynasty, that has drawn some criticism from some Warriors loyalists. 

Setting the stage 

To comprehend why some Warriors fans are upset, it’s essential to first present the circumstances in which Draymond’s support for LeBron may have accelerated to new heights (perhaps to the chagrin of some Warriors fans). 

With the resumption of the NBA season and ensuing playoffs shifted to the Orlando bubble, the conversation surrounding the NBA MVP was as much a topic as the basketball being played. Again, the award is rewarded to the player who achieved the best regular season, and the honor eventually went to Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokoumpo. But ask Draymond Green, and he’s adamant that it should have gone to LeBron James. Green advocated for LeBron before the award’s announcement and reiterated his choice once it was announced that James received only 16 first-place votes. 

Granted, Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers in scoring, rebounds, blocks, and steals, but in the eyes of Draymond Green, the Most Valuable Player award should have been awarded to LeBron James. 

In a more recent occurrence, the Denver Nuggets led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic could have dealt the Lakers another loss in the Western Conference Finals, but the end result was overshadowed by a no foul call by the refs when upon further review, there was obvious contact from LeBron as Murray attacked the rim. Safe to say fans were upset with the no-call, but for Draymond, the no-call was clear in his eyes. Only not because there wasn’t contact, but because Jamal Murray “hasn’t earned that call against LeBron in that moment.”

Perhaps the most notable example of Draymond’s support for LeBron James occurred during his appearance on ESPN’s First Take, when Green expressed the respect he had for James that, in his mind, he’s willing to go so far as to say that LeBron is the “greatest player of all time,” noting that from his perspective LeBron’s resume is “flawless.” NBA fans (not just Warriors fans) were quick to ask: How can one’s NBA resume be flawless when the consensus greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, went undefeated (6-0) in the NBA Finals, while LeBron has suffered five Finals losses himself (three at the hands of the Warriors). “Greatest player of all time” may be subjective, but for some fans, “flawless” was the tipping point in the discussion. 

Why the uproar?

Draymond’s intensity on the court has been known to get in the heads of opposing players, it’s one of his tactical advantages. Similarly, his comments off the court have been known to irk opposing fanbases (although that may just be an extension of the first point). So why is it that these recent displays of support for LeBron James displeasing some Warriors fans, so much to the point that a few called for him to be traded? After all at the end of the day, Green still suits up for Golden State when he steps on the court, why should it matter what he says off it? 

But that is exactly the reason why this has caused such an uproar (even if it is a slight one). As much as the box scores show the Warriors having faced the Cavaliers in four of the last five NBA Finals, the essence of the rivalry was always the Warriors versus LeBron. And now fans see one of the staples of the Golden State dynasty embellishing their adversary with praise? To some, such an act might seem blasphemous. 

Does giving LeBron praise amount to an act of “betrayal” by Draymond Green? Is such an act unacceptable? Are fans right to call for him to be traded? Well, there’s a five-letter word that answers all those questions, and then some. 

R-E-L-A-X

It’s time to channel some Aaron Rodgers logic: “R-E-L-A-X. Relax…” No, this is not the end of the world, Draymond giving praise to LeBron James does not signify that it’s time to break up the core of the Warriors, and it’s definitely not the time to think irrationally. We’re all missing Warriors basketball (the NBA sure does) but it doesn’t mean we need to insinuate discourse when there’s none in the first place. 

Do some really think that because Draymond respects a rival enough to give them praise that suddenly his competitive fire on the court will vanish? Do people forget how Draymond responded after LeBron stepped off the plane with an “Ultimate Warrior” shirt following the Cavs’ 2016 championship win? There was the “Quickie” t-shirt following the Warriors’ gentleman’s sweep in 2017, accompanied by the Arthur meme “Mood” shirt in 2018 after Golden State swept LeBron and the Cavs. 

Draymond Green and LeBron James are friends by all means, which is well-known, and with that friendship comes respect from both sides. First and foremost they are also both competitors, and just because they deliver praise to each other off the court does not equate to them relinquishing their competitive nature when they see each other again on the court. You can best believe that when the Warriors return next season and face LeBron James and the Lakers, that intensity will be just as equal as the rivalry of the past few years. 

So no, Warriors fans, there is not a legitimate reason to be upset with Draymond’s praise of LeBron James. Take a deep breath, take into account the larger picture at hand, and first and foremost: R-E-L-A-X. Relax.