The Golden State Warriors faced off against the Memphis Grizzlies in a game to remember, as Stephen Curry delivered a spectacular 52-point performance. With such a historic NBA showing, it was only fitting that his longtime teammate, Draymond Green, found a way to poke fun at him—doing so at the free-throw line.
Green joined ESPN’s Malika Andrews on NBA Today, where he shared what he told Curry after realizing just how many points he had late in the fourth quarter.
“I told him at the free-throw line, when they fouled him, he had 50, and he went to the free-throw line, I said, ‘Man! Oh, you already got 50? Well, go ahead and get 52—that’s not bad for a 40-year-old,'” Green recalled.
Of course, Curry is only 37, but his level of play in his 16th NBA season suggests otherwise. The only other player still dominating at this age is LeBron James, who, despite being well into his late 30s, continues to prove he’s among the best in the league.
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot against the Sacramento Kings during the first half at Chase Center on March 13, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
Draymond Green on Jimmy Butler’s impact in Golden State
Since Jimmy Butler’s arrival, the Warriors have transformed from play-in hopefuls to one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Before acquiring Butler, Golden State was struggling to stay in the postseason picture, but since then, they’ve posted a 19-5 record, playing some of their best basketball of the season.
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Beyond the team’s resurgence, Butler’s presence has also elevated both Curry and Green. The numbers speak for themselves—when Curry and Butler have shared the floor, the Warriors have gone an astonishing 18-2.
“I think this team has the ability to match different lineups,” Green said. “When you look at all championship teams, they have the versatility to adapt—if a team goes big, they can match it. If a team goes small, they can match that. Need a three-point shooting lineup? They can do that. Need an all-defensive lineup? They can go to that.”
He continued, “The versatility of this roster with Jimmy Butler allows us to match up against anyone. That’s what you need to win a championship.”
Green on the Curry-Butler duo: “A match made in heaven”
The four-time NBA champion didn’t hold back when describing Butler’s seamless fit alongside both him and Curry, calling their partnership “a match made in heaven.”
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“I can’t necessarily lie to you and say I saw 18-2 coming, but what I saw was who Jimmy Butler is. We already know what Steph Curry is capable of and how he can carry a team. But now, you add a force like Jimmy—who impacts both sides of the ball—and I stepped back and thought, ‘Alright, what are the challenges here?’” Green told Andrews. “He wants to win, and we want to win. So this is a perfect match.”
