The Golden State Warriors earned a 120-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but the result came with a larger message about who they are now. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Draymond Green stated that HC Steve Kerr delivered a blunt message, emphasizing that the Warriors no longer have the luxury of making mistakes. The league has changed, and Golden State must adjust if it wants to remain competitive.
That discussion marked a clear shift in tone from a franchise once defined by freedom, pace, and risk-taking. During their championship years, the Warriors could survive turnovers because their shooting, defense, and depth erased errors. Kerr’s message made it clear that those margins no longer exist, and every careless possession now carries real consequences.
Steve Kerr Redefines Accountability for a Different Warriors Team
Green shared that Kerr addressed his turnover issues directly, emphasizing that Golden State is no longer built to recover from sloppy execution. The warning was not about limiting Green’s role but redefining how that role functions in the current NBA landscape.
“We’re not the same team we used to be. The league has changed. Teams feast on those turnovers.” To which Green said he “heard it” and has been taking less chances
Draymond Green said he had a recent conversation with Steve Kerr about turnovers.
Kerr told him: “We’re not the same team we used to be. The league has changed. Teams feast on those turnovers.”
Green said he “heard it” and has been taking less chances pic.twitter.com/01UtTzwL6X
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 8, 2026
Green is averaging 2.8 turnovers per game during the 2025-26 season, including a latest eight-game stretch where the errors piled up and stalled offensive sync. As one of the Warriors’ elite athletes, Green touches the ball frequently through dribble handoffs, post reads, and transition initiation, making ball security a central component of Golden State’s success.
The instant reaction came against Milwaukee. Fourteen points, seven assists, and Day-Day kept things clean with merely one turnover. The whole Golden State squad coughed it up just ten times, handing Milwaukee a meager eight points from errors. Back when mistakes piled up early in the year, the Warriors paid dearly; now, fewer giveaways hint at quiet strides forward.
Green has now recorded just one turnover in three of his last 4 outings, showing a deliberate shift toward simpler reads and controlled pacing. He credited Kerr’s message for sharpening his focus not just on passing but on overall execution, leadership, and situational awareness.
At 35, Green continues to lead the Warriors with 5.4 assists per game, proving his offensive prowess. What has changed is the standard. Kerr is no longer coaching a dynasty. He is coaching a team fighting for relevance in a league that punishes every mistake.
The warning was not a criticism. It was a reality check. Golden State’s future now depends on discipline, precision, and restraint, and Kerr made it clear that even its most trusted veteran must evolve with the times.
