Draymond Green has offered his explanation for why LeBron James ultimately decided against joining the Golden State Warriors in free agency, saying the four-time NBA champion could not get past his history with the franchise.
“He just couldn’t get over the past, which is, ‘I battled these guys over and over again. What is that now going to look like for me if I come there? What type of beating am I going to take if I come there?’” Green said.
James and the Warriors have a long history, particularly from their four consecutive NBA Finals meetings between 2015 and 2018. Golden State won three of those series, while James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the franchise’s first championship in 2016 after the Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit.
The possibility of James joining Golden State became one of the major storylines of the 2026 offseason. Green declined his $27.7 million player option on June 29, creating additional flexibility for the Warriors as they pursued James in free agency.
James ultimately chose the Philadelphia 76ers instead, while Green re-signed with Golden State on a one-year, $27.68 million contract. Stephen Curry subsequently agreed to a two-year, $116 million extension on Sept. 25, keeping the Warriors’ long-time core together.
James enters the 2026-27 season at age 41 and is coming off another All-Star campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 60 games during the 2025-26 season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 33.2 minutes per game.
The 23-year veteran remains one of the most productive players in NBA history. He has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists over 1,622 regular-season games while shooting 50.7% from the field.
Golden State, meanwhile, enters the new season with Curry, Green and several veteran additions still looking to compete at the highest level. The Warriors extended Kristaps Porzingis for two years and $40 million, retained Green, and kept Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton.
The Warriors also face significant financial restrictions. Following the offseason moves, the team is roughly $348,000 below the second-apron hard cap, leaving little room for additional roster maneuvering.
