Steve Kerr: Draymond Green Keeping Rhythm Going at Olympics More Important Than Rest

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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve
Kerr said Monday he agrees with Draymond Green’s decision to play for
Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Kerr explained to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Raj
Mathai he believes Green was as good as ever during the second half of the 2020-21 NBA season, so it makes sense
to build off that success in the Games.

“So for Draymond, keeping that
rhythm, keeping that momentum going is more important for him than
the rest is,” he said. “So I think this will be great for
Draymond’s own personal welfare, but also for the team because, to
me, Draymond is the best defensive center in the world even though
he’s not really our center. When he does play center, he’s amazing
defensively. So we’re going to need him in Tokyo.”

Green struggled offensively during the
first half of the campaign, shooting just 39.1 percent from the
field, but he turned back into a key two-way contributor after the
All-Star break. He averaged 8.3 points, 9.1 assists, 8.2 rebounds,
1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 49.5 percent across 32 games
in the second half.

The Olympics tend to feature more
small-ball lineups, which will allow Team USA to maximize Green’s
impact as a center in those situations, as Kerr alluded. The
Warriors coach serves as an assistant under the San Antonio Spurs’
Gregg Popovich for the national team.

Meanwhile, Kerr said Green’s situation
is different than that of teammate Stephen Curry, who has withdrawn his
name from consideration for Tokyo.

“I think it makes perfect sense,
actually,” Kerr said. “Steph has so many demands on his
time. He has to play so hard for so much of the season. He’s 180
pounds, he’s 34, and he needs rest. And Draymond is sort of the
opposite to be perfectly blunt.”

Team USA will play its first group game
July 25 against France. The Americans’ pool will also include Iran
and a qualifier from one of the last-chance tournaments. The top two
teams advance to the quarterfinals, with Popovich’s crew likely the
heavy favorite to win gold once rosters are finalized.

Green’s versatility should make him a vital asset for the squad as he attempts to earn his second Olympic
gold medal after previously taking one home from the 2016 Rio Games.