How Draymond Green Cleaned Up His Act

Green has come a long way in harnessing his temper

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Even for some Golden State Warriors fans, Draymond Green is a polarizing figure.

Sure, without the unheralded second-round pick out of Michigan State, the Warriors would not have won three NBA championships and be three games away from winning their fourth. But, by the same token, the team would likely already have that fourth championship were it not for Green being suspended during the 2016 NBA Finals.

As it went, Green had to sit out Game 5 of the finals that year for hitting LeBron James in the groin and the Warriors went on to blow a 3-1 series lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That was a long time ago and Green has come a long way in harnessing his temper.

“It’s all about, ‘Is [the fire] working for me or is it working against me?’” Green told ESPN. “When I’m channeling it to work for me, I think I’m one of the baddest motherf*ckers on the planet. When it gets the best of me, I’m not so good.”

And that’s not the only change Green has made as, in addition to making an effort to remain cool under pressure, the 29-year-old has also dropped more than 25 pounds after a midseason conversation with Golden State general manager Bob Myer.

To do it, Green increased his training regimen and cut out favorite snacks like chips, red wine and fast food.

“When I went on this diet, it’s like a sense of control, and it’s confidence because you feel like you’re conquering something, You’re defeating something every day,” Green said. “Having that control, it carries over to other areas in your life. We all love to eat. We all enjoy the things that we enjoy. If I can conquer that and not do that, why can’t I conquer my emotions, too? Well, maybe I can f*cking conquer my emotions! Maybe I can conquer anything else! And so I think honestly that has really helped put me in a different state.”

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