Draymond Green on LeBron turning down the Warriors: “He did it because of our history”
According to Draymond Green, the Warriors’ history with LeBron James and the media scrutiny surrounding it ultimately pushed the four-time champion to choose the Philadelphia 76ers
The Golden State Warriors did everything they could to convince LeBron James to bring his talents to the Bay Area. Stephen Curry publicly recruited him on multiple occasions, head coach Steve Kerr joked about the possibility, and even Draymond Green worked behind the scenes during a summer vacation to help make it happen. In the end, however, every effort came up short.
Green himself explained what he believes were the real reasons behind King James’ decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers during the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show.
If you go back to Cleveland or Miami and win another championship, it would never feel as special as 2012, 2013, or 2016. Those two destinations eliminated themselves because of that
Draymond Green
Green then expanded on his thoughts.
When it comes to Golden State, I simply think Bron could never get past the weight of our rivalry. And I understand that. We all knew that was the biggest obstacle. We live in an era where everyone has an opinion, and if he had come here, people would’ve crushed him: ‘Oh, you had to go join Steph Curry. You had to join them.’ I think the concern for his legacy played a huge role in his final decision
Draymond Green
The four consecutive NBA Finals matchups between LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and Stephen Curry’s Warriors from 2015 through 2018 defined an era. Joining Golden State would have opened the door to an unprecedented wave of criticism, with many accusing LeBron of teaming up with his greatest rivals in pursuit of a fifth NBA championship.
After unsuccessfully pursuing both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown, the Warriors also watched their final blockbuster offseason dream slip away. LeBron James ultimately chose Philadelphia, embracing a completely new challenge – while also hinting at retirement – and leaving Golden State fans disappointed, yet reminded that some rivalries are simply too meaningful to erase.