NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: TIMBERWOLVES VS WARRIORS

May 12, 2025

Draymond Green

Golden State Warriors

Game 4 - Postgame Media Conference

Timberwolves - 117, Warriors - 110

Q. We know the math on being down 3-1 in a series. What's the mindset going into Game 5?

DRAYMOND GREEN: Before I start I wanted to apologize to you all. I didn't talk the other day. I was quite a bit frustrated and I'm very careful -- I didn't want to get myself fined or say something that sounds like an excuse, when you struggle and lose. I didn't come up here and talk, and I felt like a coward when I came home. And I wanted to apologize to you all for that.

As far as -- we've just got to win a game. Win one game, take it from there. I think that's our mindset. Do all that we can, figure out a way to win one. You win one, everything changes. So that will be our mindset going into Game 5.

Q. Players like Ant are going to get theirs at some point in the game, but did you think that tonight was more of a lack of a defensive effort on you guys or just some star power that they had?

DRAYMOND GREEN: They hit shots. They shot the ball extremely well. I thought we defended good in spurts, but they got going and we never was able to put out the fire. Gotta give them a lot of credit.

Kind of felt like they were due for a great shooting night. Sucks that it had to be tonight, but it was and we just gotta figure it out coming back in Game 5.

Q. When you guys were closing the half really well and then Ant hits the big shot in the end, and you and Gary defended it like you should, but how big was that shot for him to go down at that time?

DRAYMOND GREEN: It was huge. I think one thing we talked about at halftime is, like, yeah, he hit a tough shot but what could we have done differently? Could we have not let him walk up to the spot?

But it's like every time we're on a run, we're letting Ant break the run up. And somebody can break the run up but it can't be their best player. Like, our defense should be so keyed at that point during a run that it can't be their best player just getting to a spot and raising up.

I'm not just talking about that player. There were several points, we're on a run and he gets -- even the last game he gets to the free-throw line and raises up. I think we've got to do a better job there.

That's not one guy. It's a complete team effort when you're guarding a guy like that. I think we've got to be better there. Once we get the run, just gotta put up more for us defensively.

Q. You guys only got up 27 3s. It was pretty low volume last game, too. How do you generate enough offense basically in 2025 when it doesn't seem like you can get up that many 3s?

DRAYMOND GREEN: Everybody has to shoot -- get the opening, you gotta let it go. I think sometimes we're passing some up. Without Steph, at times the first good look oftentimes will be the best look.

When you've got Steph out there, you can turn down looks because you can go and play on the backside and he creates so many -- causes so many dominos to fall. But when he's not, you turn down that first open look and then go looking for something else and it may not open up again.

So I think starters, we've got to take the first open ones. Not mildly contested ones, but if they're open, you've gotta let it go. I think that's where it starts for us.

Q. You guys are obviously facing elimination. It's later stage of yours and Steph's career. Do you expect him to almost try to push himself back considering the circumstances? And do you have to be part of a conversation of, like, you know, him maybe having to protect himself from rushing back?

DRAYMOND GREEN: No, we're not going to Superman this thing. If he's in a place where he can play, I'm sure he will. Him and Rick and everybody will figure that out. But we don't need Superman.

Gotta play the long game. If he can, we know he will. But there's no pressure. We've got to figure out how to win whether he plays or not.

Q. You were talking about defending Ant. He was obviously a tough cover his first few years in the league. But now that his 3 is so much better, how much tougher is he, and is there anyone really in the league who has that combination of 3-point ability and dynamic drives to the basket?

DRAYMOND GREEN: No. There is no one. He is a one of one. But I think with the increased volume, the ability that he's worked his tail off for, to be able to shoot the ball like that, makes him a tough cover for sure.

But we've also got to do a better job, his first ones can't be off of offensive rebound, kickout 3s. I think he's using some of them to get going the last couple games. We have to do a better job taking those away. And if we don't get the rebound you gotta go into a scramble, not give up the open 3s.

Q. With Jimmy, what's the difference tonight when he takes nine shots as opposed to the last game when he's taking 26?

DRAYMOND GREEN: I mean, we obviously need him shooting the ball. But their defense, they were collapsing on him today. So we tried to pick up that slack. But I know he's not feeling well. Been pretty crappy all day. But that also affects the energy as well. No excuses made here.

I think that's on me. I've got to find a way to get him into more positions to score. I think tonight I was just trying to get him the ball, and I don't think I got him the ball in good spots, which then allowed the defense to load up on him. So I've got to do a better job of getting him the ball in better spots to where it's not as easy for the defense to key on him.

Q. Can you talk about just the morale of Steph at this point? How is he holding up? You saying you don't want him to be Superman, but I'm sure he's putting the weight of the franchise on him. And just overall your thoughts on just how, I guess, unlucky the playoffs can be? Tatum, looks like he's done for the season. I don't know if you saw that or knew that. But I guess the life of the playoffs.

DRAYMOND GREEN: When you're competing for championships or trying to, the most important thing you can have on your side is health. You start getting a month, two, two and a half months longer into an already-long season, and injuries are more likely to happen. So you try to do all you can to prevent that.

Send my love to J.T. Never wish any injury on anybody, hoping that it's not what everyone thinks it is. Such a great young talent in this league. Does everything the right way. So hate to see him go down.

As far as Steph, he's working his tail off every day. He's in here eight, nine hours a day working, doing what he can to try to get back. His morale is great. Obviously nobody's excited right now. But he's working to get back. It's all you can do at this point.

Q. This has been the third straight game where Jonathan Kuminga had a good-scoring game. I was wondering, for you, what is it about this series where the spacing hasn't been ideal that he's been able to get to the basket, get to the rim? And what do you expect to see from him in Game 5?

DRAYMOND GREEN: The same thing he's been doing, putting pressure on the rim, getting out in transition, attacking the seams when he can. I've always said he's a special talent. Give the ball to him in his hands and let him figure it out, that's what I expect him to do.

Expect him to have a big game for us in Game 5, but we need him to continue to play with that same aggression. So we definitely need it.

Q. If Steph can't go in Game 5, what's the non-negotiables you guys absolutely have to have to come out of Minnesota with a win?

DRAYMOND GREEN: Gotta get loose balls, long rebounds. I thought we did a good job pushing the pace for parts of the game, but if you get loose balls and those long rebounds, it ramps it up even more.

They get offensive rebounds, loose balls, we're taking the ball out of the net, we're already missing our number one guy who makes the dominos fall. Makes it that much tougher.

Have to come up with all the loose balls and set that type of tone. And then defensively gotta be really good. You give up 117 points without Steph you're probably losing, because the likelihood that we're going to score 117 points without him is not that high.

So everyone has to commit to getting it done on the defensive end, everybody being on the string. That's how we give ourselves a chance.

Q. To follow up from the other night, could you elaborate what you meant by the agenda statement that you made.

DRAYMOND GREEN: I've moved on.

Q. What has it been like for Steph on the bench watching these games he can't play in? Is he silent? Is he talkative? Is it angsty?

DRAYMOND GREEN: He's not silent. He's talking, communicating with everyone. He's kind of the voice between the coaches and the players at the moment.

But you can tell he's antsy. He grabbed a ball started dribbling, wanted to shoot. He's definitely antsy, but he's as involved at he can be.