Draymond Green knows how quickly and ugly fights with teammates can get. So, the 14-year veteran made sure no issues spilled over during the Warriors’ clash against the Pelicans. With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler injured, the young core in the Golden State took over, and it caused some problems.

During the third quarter, with 2:39 remaining, Steve Kerr called for a timeout. Before he could discuss plays, Brandin Podziemski and Quinten Post were having a heated argument. It was the latter who was apparently angry at Podz for not passing him the ball. Post had a mismatch down low against Bryce McGowens, but the pass to him never came.

Podziemski often is guilty of dribbling too much and thus doesn’t see or is late to take an advantage for his team. It was a basic mismatch that could have produced an easy layup as the Warriors were trailing by 1 at the time. Post was fuming and was jawing at his teammate Podz, which veteran Draymond Green saw and went to quickly hash it out.

In the video, Green grabbed both of his teammates to emphasize his point. After releasing Post, he pulled Podz aside for a one-on-one moment, reportedly pointing at the court and walking him through the options available to the young guard. Despite showing clutch potential in the win over the Nuggets, Podziemski couldn’t replicate that impact to seal the victory this time.

Podziemski, the Warriors’ 2023 first-round pick, has rapidly become more than a rotation player. Golden State sees him as a key piece of its next core and a potential long-term building block around which the roster can evolve.

He was specifically selected with that future in mind, and the team has been careful not to trade him, even when bigger veteran help was available, signaling how much they value his talent and role going forward.

Quinten Post, meanwhile, represents a complementary stretch-big forward/center profile that the Warriors have begun to lean on. Drafted in 2024 and worked into the rotation, he has shown flashes of production on both ends, including efficient scoring and the ability to space the floor with his shooting.

For a team that has often relied on outside shooting and motion offense, having a big man who can make shots and finish around the basket provides strategic balance.

Why their chemistry matters now is tied directly to the Warriors’ transitional phase: with key veterans sidelined, Golden State’s success hinges on its younger players reading the game, sharing the ball, and understanding spacing and timing within Steve Kerr’s offense.

For the Pelicans, Zion Williamson scored 26 points as the Pelicans defeated the visiting Warriors 113-109 on Tuesday. The short-handed Dub Nation was without Stephen Curry (knee), Jimmy Butler (knee), Al Horford (toe), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) went down early in the first quarter, 31-19.

Draymond Green got into the history book

Golden State is the only team among the top eight in the Western Conference with a losing record on the road (11-17). The Warriors got as close as 104-103 with 1:47 left in the game, but couldn’t get the job done.

De’Anthony Melton posted a game-high 28 points for the Warriors, Moses Moody scored 24 points, and Brandin Podziemski tallied 16 points and 15 rebounds, matching his career-high rebound total set two nights earlier.

Draymond Green was back in the starting lineup after missing the game against the Nuggets due to his lower back tightening up.

His 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two blocks showed his effective contribution, but even in the loss, he added another accolade to his Warriors lore.“Dray is now the ninth Warrior to ever reach 1,000 offensive rebounds.” The Golden State Warriors tweeted to honor their 14-year veteran star.

They will need more from him going forward as they head to Memphis to play the second half of their 11th back-to-back of the season.