Warriors Draymond Green details battle with confidence and game-day anxiety

LAIE, Hawaii (KGO) -- Draymond Green said the first day of training camp left him exhausted, but he viewed the demanding workload as a necessary step in preparing for the season ahead.

Asked about the heavy conditioning after practice, Green said it was likely the most running he has done in a training camp session.

"It's probably the most run that we've ever done in a training camp practice. We ran quite a bit, but it was good, you know, for everybody to kind of get that first day under their belt. But I am cooked. I am cook."

Green said the compressed preseason schedule makes establishing conditioning and endurance early in camp especially important.

"You got five days before the first game, and you got five pre-season games," Green said. "So those first couple practices, you really want to push yourself to the brink."

Discussing expectations for the season, Green rejected the idea that the team's goals should be framed as "championship or bust." Instead, he said success is measured by the process a team follows from the beginning of camp through the end of the season.

"The reality is it's never been championship or bust. We've just always strived to win championships," Green said. "What success is, is putting together a great project so that we can become the best team we can possibly become."

Green said effort, focus, chemistry and leadership are all essential parts of that process.

"The effort, the focus, the togetherness, the chemistry, camaraderie, building everything you can as a team, right?" he said. "You try to negate all the factors you can that's going to take away from your process."

The veteran also expanded on comments he previously made about anxiety during the season, describing the pressure players experience long before games begin.

"You wake up that day. It's a game. You're feeling that stress. You're feelin' that anxiety," Green said. "Ultimately, you want to build a great resume, but you're also playing for your livelihood."

Green said the mental strain builds throughout the day and culminates when players step onto the court in front of thousands of fans and a large television audience.

"It's like, oh man, they got out there at seven o'clock, and it's time to go," he said. "Like, no man, you've been wearing that stress all day."

Green also discussed changes in his offensive role as he enters another season. He said coaches have encouraged him to shoot more 3-pointers and credited that support with helping rebuild confidence that diminished earlier in his career.

"As you age in this career... The things change, your role changes, your game changes, your athleticism changes, everything changes," Green said. "And if you don't adjust with the game, ultimately the game will push you out."

He said confidence became a challenge after he sacrificed offensive opportunities to help facilitate for teammates and focus on other responsibilities.

"On the offensive end. When you lose your confidence in this league, it's a death sentence," Green said. "I spent years just building that confidence back."

Green said regaining that confidence remains an ongoing process, even as he has become more comfortable taking outside shots.

The conversation also turned to Green's long-running partnership with Stephen Curry. Green reflected on entering the league while Curry was still battling ankle injuries and said the two have grown together through every stage of their careers.

"Our whole career actually has been together," Green said.

He recalled watching Curry evolve into a superstar while the two navigated similar milestones on and off the court, including marriage, family life and championship success.

"We've literally gone through everything together," Green said. "And it's honestly, um. If you sat me on Hollywood, I couldn't have written a better script."

Despite spending more than a decade as teammates, Green said their relationship has remained remarkably steady.

"I can't remember a time we've ever had an argument," Green said.

As training camp begins, Green said the team's focus remains on building the habits, leadership and chemistry necessary to give itself the best chance of competing when the season's most important moments arrive.