Warriors' Draymond Green admits the Play-In Tournament is 'not that exciting' for him

Green says the Play-In lacks the intensity of a traditional playoff series.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game broken down into overlapping planes of blue, yellow, and red, conveying the chaotic and high-stakes nature of the NBA's Play-In Tournament.The Warriors' playoff hopes rest on navigating the high-stakes Play-In Tournament, a format that lacks the intensity of traditional postseason basketball.Oklahoma City Today

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has expressed his lack of enthusiasm for the NBA's Play-In Tournament, which the Warriors have qualified for after a disappointing regular season. Green acknowledged that while he embraces the challenge, the Play-In lacks the same intensity and excitement as a traditional playoff series.

Why it matters

The Play-In Tournament was introduced by the NBA to incentivize teams to keep competing late in the season, but Green believes that in the Western Conference this year, the top 10 teams have largely been locked in for weeks, with little pressure from outside teams due to what he claims is tanking. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the Play-In format and its impact on the competitive balance of the league.

The details

The Warriors are officially locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, meaning they'll have to win two road games in the Play-In Tournament to secure a spot in the playoffs. Despite the high stakes, Green made it clear after Tuesday's win over the Sacramento Kings that the Play-In doesn't carry the same intensity as a traditional playoff series.

  • The Warriors have officially clinched the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
  • The Warriors will need to win two road games in the Play-In Tournament to advance to the playoffs.

The players

Draymond Green

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors who has expressed his lack of enthusiasm for the NBA's Play-In Tournament.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who has previously stated that he 'hates' the Play-In Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“You have to obviously focus in on the rim. Sometimes there could be contact or whatnot -- I do fall a lot -- but those two were just timing, confidence, let it go, absorb the contact and have fun with it.”

— Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Player

“It's extremely important. Just knowing that in the event of a Game 7, it's always gonna be at home. You can't underestimate how valuable that is … now, we got more to do.”

— Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Player

What’s next

The Warriors will need to win twice on the road to advance and earn a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, or else, their season comes to an early end once again.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around the effectiveness of the NBA's Play-In Tournament, with players like Draymond Green expressing their lack of enthusiasm for the format. It raises questions about the competitive balance of the league and whether the Play-In is truly achieving its intended goal of incentivizing late-season competition.