by Schroeder believes working with Draymond will be ‘special’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Count the slides and keep swiping.
On the same night the Warriors were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs two seasons ago, Dennis Schröder, then a member of the Lakers, posted a celebratory Instagram post with seven images. The first six featured Schröder celebrating in front of Draymond Green midway through the game.
These six images contained an incredible irony. In reality, it involved an incident in which Green shoved the ball into Schröder’s face midway through the third quarter of Game 6, the final game of the series, which resulted in both Green and Schröder receiving technical fouls. It was also Schröder’s second shot of the game that resulted in him being sent off.
Bad blood was easy to assume. Green’s response in the comments section of Schröder’s post said otherwise.
Green wrote: “Much love and respect for you, brother! Changed the series! Go finish the job!” He also added three praying hands emojis at the end.
Schröder reiterated that same respect Tuesday at Chase Center during his opening news conference, two days after the Warriors acquired him in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
“I’m really excited to play with Draymond,” Schröder said. “As you saw, we did it. I knew him before. People asked, ‘How is it going to work?’ But we had a good relationship beforehand.”
Schröder’s only start for the Lakers in the 2022 Western Conference semifinals was the Game 6 win. Although he scored just three points on 1-of-6 shooting, Schröder’s energy sapped the life of Golden State and he scored a plus in 25 minutes of 16. In the final four games of the series, in which the Lakers finished 3-1, Schröder scored a total of 57.
“I’m really looking forward to playing on the field with another Hall of Famer who was always awesome when he was on the other side of the field,” Schröder said. “Who just talked gossip and trash, was just competitive and tried to get out there” and win.
“To combine that now, I think it’s pretty unique and special.”
When the news broke, questions immediately arose about Schröder’s suitability for the Warriors. How would his style of play work in coach Steve Kerr’s system? Will he be a problem in the Warriors locker room?
The Warriors are Schröder’s eighth team, with which he has played in his twelfth NBA season. To put it better: Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Schröder has played for the Lakers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Lakers again, Toronto Raptors, Nets and now the Warriors.
Since November 2020, Schröder has been traded four times. That’s not a problem for Kerr, who appeared for six franchises in his 15-year playing career, or for Green, who has worn Golden State’s colors in all 13 years of his career.
“I love his demeanor,” Green said Sunday after the Warriors’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks. “He acts like he belongs in every room at all times. I respect people like that. I’m looking forward to being teammates and getting to know him better. But I know who he is and what he is, and that’s the most important thing.”
Schröder revealed Tuesday that former Warrior Ty Jerome introduced him to Green and the two actually played cards together before the Warriors-Lakers playoff series.
As is often the case, Schröder knows that the man Green plays off the field is different than the wild personality he displays on the field. He should know himself as someone who channels his inner basketball demon inside the lines but is friendly before he steps on the floor.
It’s the beauty of sport and competition, and Schröder, along with Green, fully supports that.
“Everything you see if you don’t know him on the field isn’t really Draymond,” says Schröder. “Really, really cool off the field. Tries to help his young guys no matter who plays on his team. He’s a great leader, has a great voice and we had fun.
“When you get to those limits and you’re not playing on the same team, then you’re just competing at the highest level. But after that it’s always friendship or after that you’re always cool. That’s what I liked about Draymond. I can’t wait to get going with these guys on Thursday and I think it’s going to be really special.”
Adding fire to flames can result in a locker room burning down and ruining a season and the good vibes that were created at the start.
A team that has won eight of its first ten games and has now lost eight of its last ten games could also use game lights under every single one of its players’ seats, and Green and Schröder won’t shy away from providing the necessary fuel is needed on a specific day.
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