Warriors fans are furious—and honestly, who can blame them? What was supposed to be a do-or-die, prove-it kind of game against the LA Clippers on April 13 turned into chaos, confusion, and controversy. Golden State lost 124-119 in overtime, and while the final score stings, it’s what happened after the buzzer that really set the internet ablaze.
Let’s rewind. With 27 seconds left in OT, down by two, Draymond Green cut hard to the rim and got a clean look at a layup—one he’s made a thousand times. This time? He bricked it. The miss was brutal. While the moment was massive. Draymond knew that he messed up. “I completely smoked a layup,” he admitted post-game. No sugarcoating it. But then he dropped a line that had Warriors Twitter going nuts, “And Buddy missed a shot.”
Buddy Hield had an open three with five seconds left that could’ve tied the game. He missed. Happens. But Draymond casually tacking that on felt… off. Was it honesty? Was it throwing some shade? While some say he was just keeping it real. Others say he broke the locker room code.
When asked if that was the play they drew up, Draymond didn’t hesitate, “Yes. That was the play that was drawn up, we got the look, [Buddy] just missed it.” No spin. No cushion. Just the facts—blunt and brutal, like the loss itself.
Draymond Green on the two late plays in OT — his missed layup and Buddy’s missed three:
“I completely smoked a layup. And Buddy missed a shot.”
Q: “Was it the shot that you guys wanted?”
“Yes. That was the play that was drawn up, we got the look, [Buddy] just missed it.” pic.twitter.com/VXXqBPHRKF
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 13, 2025
The Warriors had a shot to lock in a top-six seed. Instead, they’re tumbling into the Play-In with drama on and off the court. Missed shots, missed chances, and maybe a missed opportunity to keep things in-house. One thing’s for sure—this one’s gonna linger.
Missed shots, missed words—But Steve Kerr’s confidence in Draymond Green is still unshaken
For all the noise, drama, and occasional chaos that surrounds Draymond Green, there’s one thing the Warriors never do, doubt him. And even with the Play-In looming and the questions swirling after the Clippers loss, the belief in Draymond hasn’t wavered—not inside the locker room, and definitely not from Steve Kerr. When he was asked about Draymond’s candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year, His reply was.
“I think Draymond is the Defensive Player of the Year,” Kerr said flat-out. “I can’t imagine him not winning at this point. Just what I witness every single night. The incredible versatility of his defensive game and how powerful his brain is… he’s had a great, great year. I think he should win it. I am a little biased though.”
Biased? Maybe. Wrong? Not really.
Mar 8, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) shoots over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Draymond Green was recently named the Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month, and it’s easy to see why. Averages of 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks in just 29 minutes per game only tell part of the story. His impact? It’s undeniable
Draymond’s defense isn’t just about stats—it’s about clutch moments. In a 97-94 win over the Knicks on March 15, he shut down critical plays in crunch time. Three days later, he went toe-to-toe with Giannis Antetokounmpo and held him to 0-of-7 from the field. That’s not a fluke—that’s Draymond doing Draymond things.
Even in a “down year,” his 108.6 defensive rating is still top 10 league-wide. And if history is any indication, the playoffs could unlock another level. The Warriors will need every ounce of that defensive fire if they want to survive the Play-In and make a real run.
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