JaMychal Green explains how calls from Kerr, Draymond convinced him to join Warriors
Green was not expecting to hear from the Warriors, but he was glad he picked up when Steve Kerr called.
JaMychal Green was in a plunge pool on vacation in Jamaica when the Warriors called. On the brink of signing with another team, Green was a little stunned to hear from Steve Kerr, but the invite to join the defending champions was too enticing.
“After talking to him, I just couldn’t tell him no,” Green said. “With the organization and what they built over there, just felt that I’d love to be part of it.”
The Warriors officially signed the 32-year-old to a one-year deal, reportedly worth the veteran minimum, on Monday. Green, listed as a forward, will be used primarily as a stretch five in some of the Warriors’ small-ball lineups, much like the role departed players Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica played for Golden State last season.
Shortly after hanging up with Kerr, Green got a call from Draymond Green with another sales pitch explaining how he’d fit in. The two Greens talked for a bit, but they had a friendly relationship before having played together in the AAU circuit growing up — Green, the newest Warrior, grew up in Alabama. Green, who also made a convincing sales pitch to new Warrior Donte DiVincenzo, didn’t have to do too much convincing.
Green said he was looking forward to helping Draymond with “the dirty work,” knocking down shots and playing defense.
“It wasn’t a hard decision,” Green said. “You come here and handle business, you can set yourself up for life. I’m just happy to be here.”
Green spent last season with the Denver Nuggets playing alongside MVP Nikola Jokic. Green was playing through a wrist injury last season that hindered his shooting numbers. His 29% from three in 2021-22 is a far cry from the 38% clip he maintained throughout his previous nine seasons playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers. Over his last three seasons in Los Angeles and Denver, Green shot nearly 40% from three on an average of 3.3 attempts per game.
After the Warriors eliminated the Nuggets in the first round of last year’s playoffs, Jokic said he hoped to play with Green “for the rest of his life.”
“He’s amazing. His effort, his energy, his toughness,” Jokic told reporters. “When you’re down, you don’t want to play bad or be called (out) that you didn’t put in effort with him on the court because the guy is amazing. All the best to him. Whatever he does, he’s aggressive. Attacking the ball, shooting the ball. When he made mistakes, I had nothing to say to him because he’s getting it back.”
In June, Nuggets traded Green and a first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the draft rights for 2022 pick Peyton Watson and two second-round picks. On July 20, the Thunder bought out Green’s contract and waived him. The Warriors signed him after he cleared waivers.
“I just feel like they keep you on your toes. Coming here, you can’t settle, get satisfied or anything,” Green said. “You constantly working here and getting better. That’s something I need to be around. Be around types of players that won championships that have that leadership. They have everything here. From Andre (Iguodala) being a leader as well. Steph (Curry), Klay (Thompson), Draymond. I look forward to playing with those guys.”