Steve Kerr Calls Out Draymond Green for Warriors' Turnover Issues

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has expressed concern over Draymond Green's high turnover rate in the early stages of the season, attributing it to an attempt to "make plays" and an adjustment period with the team's overhauled offensive system.

"I would say he is just trying too hard to make plays right now and turning it over too often, just being too aggressive," Kerr stated. "He’s got to get more comfortable with these new concepts that we’re putting in and be more patient."

During the Warriors' first five games, the team has committed 87 turnovers, averaging 17.4 per contest, an increase from last season's 15.4 per game. Green, in particular, has recorded 17 turnovers in the four games he has played, averaging a career-high 4.3 turnovers per game. Despite this, Green has also contributed 6.8 assists per game.

The increased turnovers for Green come as he has taken on a more central role, often serving as the team's primary center due to the emergence of rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. This shift has led to fewer shot attempts for Green, with only five made field goals on 13 attempts. However, Kerr acknowledged Green's defensive prowess and his efforts in adapting to the new offensive schemes, including crashing the offensive boards.

"I think he’s still brilliant defensively. I think he’s still doing a great job at that end of the floor," Kerr commented. "I think he’s really adapting to the things that we’re trying to get him to do. He’s crashing, getting more offensive boards."

Kerr also noted that Green has approached him multiple times during games to acknowledge his turnovers. The coach is providing Green and the rest of the team patience as they integrate the new five-out system, which features more set plays designed to reduce chaotic possessions. Kerr compared the implementation period to the year it took for teams to adopt Phil Jackson's Triangle offense, emphasizing that new concepts require time for players, especially experienced ones, to master.

"These things take time," Kerr said. "Phil Jackson once told me the Triangle for a new team took a year to implement. Not that we’re implementing the Triangle, but we’re implementing new concepts. I think anytime you shift some schemes, some strategies and it’s new to players, especially older players, experienced players, I can look at all of our turnovers and I can say the vast majority of them are correctable. We just have to keep at it."