Following a lopsided 129-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green did not mince words about his team’s performance. The vocal leader delivered a blunt and pointed assessment of the Warriors’ primary issue, calling out the defensive effort that has led to a mediocre 5-5 start to the season.
Golden State Warriors Draymond Green: “Our Defense Sucks”
Never one to shy away from accountability, Green was direct in his postgame comments. “Our defense sucks,” he stated plainly, connecting the team’s poor defensive play directly to their record. “And we’re 5-5. And they go hand in hand.”
His frustration was echoed by teammate Jimmy Butler, who called for “some more effort” on the defensive end. The comments highlight a growing concern within the Warriors’ locker room about a unit that was expected to be a strength. The team has now lost four of its last five games, and the defensive identity that defined their dynasty years has been noticeably absent.
A Drastic Drop-Off
The Warriors’ current defensive struggles are a stark contrast to their performance at the end of last season. After acquiring Jimmy Butler, Golden State finished the final 31 games of the 2024-25 campaign with the best defensive rating in the NBA, a stretch where they went 23-8. That elite level of play created optimism that the Warriors would once again be a defensive force this year.
However, through the first 10 games, that has not been the case. The Warriors currently rank just 16th in defensive rating and have given up 120 or more points in half of their games. For comparison, they allowed that point total only 16 times during the entire previous season. The Nuggets, in particular, have had their way with Golden State, averaging 130 points in their two matchups so far.
Finding a Way Forward
The Warriors’ championship formula has always been built on a foundation of stingy, switchable defense that fuels their high-powered offense. The current lapse in defensive effort and execution has disrupted that balance, leaving the team looking inconsistent and vulnerable. Getting Stephen Curry back in the lineup, who has missed the last two games with an illness, will certainly help the offense, but it won’t solve the core defensive issues.
Green’s public criticism serves as a clear wake-up call for the team. For the Warriors to return to their contending form, they must rediscover the defensive intensity and communication that has been their trademark. It will require a renewed commitment from every player to get stops, force turnovers, and play with the collective energy that has made them so successful. Green has put his team on notice; now, the Warriors must respond on the court.
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