The Playoffs are a cutthroat time in the NBA where the pursuit of championship glory and sports immortality supersedes everything. Brothers clash and longtime friends set aside relationships forged from mutual shedding of blood, sweat and tears, for the chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
It’s been said many times in different ways, but the postseason is genuinely a different beast from the one NBA players routinely tame during the regular season. One player who knows a thing or two about competing at this level is Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green. As someone who has played in 169 playoff games and won four championships, Green knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
That said, he pointed out that if young stud Victor Wembanyama wants to lead the San Antonio Spurs to the promised land this season, he has to stop thinking of his Minnesota Timberwolves counterpart, Rudy Gobert, as a friend. Instead, he has to consider him as a combatant who is standing in his way.
Compatriots
Despite the 11-year gap, Wemby and Gobert have forged a close relationship. As hoopers born and raised in France, the two have spent a lot of time together representing their country in international competitions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they won the silver medal in the men’s basketball tournament.
It’s common knowledge how much Wembanyama looks up to Gobert. However, at this point in the season, with a ticket to the Western Conference Finals at stake, Green said Wembanyama must set aside his friendship with Wolves big man, even if it’s just for a week or two.
“That’s his young fella. He know his game. That means something,” Green said on his show, referring to Gobert’s mentorship of the newly-crowned Defensive Player of the Year.
“Can Wemby say, “F—k you. I’m done with you. No, I’m done with you.’ But it has to be like that right now,” the fiery forward continued. “It can’t be no friends. I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t talk French to me. Don’t do none of that. We enemies right now.”
Related: “Your favorite guard’s favorite guard” – Carmelo Anthony names Andre Miller as the NBA’s forgotten baller
A harsh but necessary mindset
As harsh as it may be to consider a longtime friend as an enemy, Green asserted that’s just the way it is when the stakes get high in the NBA Playoffs. With every opponent keen on exploiting every weakness, players can’t afford to take it easy on a foe just because they’re friends.
Michael Jordan showed this incredible mindset during the 1993 NBA Finals when he faced off against one of his closest buddies at the time, Charles Barkley. Instead of letting off the gas pedal, Jordan did the exact opposite and averaged 41.0 points per game in that six-game series, the highest scoring average for a single finals series in NBA history.
“It has to be that. If not, you’re going to get big-bro’d. That’s just the way it goes,” Green reminded Wemby.
Wembanyama apparently heard Green loud and clear as he delivered an impressive performance in Game 2, tallying 19 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks in only 25 minutes of action to lead the Spurs to a resounding 133-95 victory. It looks like he listened to Green’s words.
Related: Rick Mahorn claims Victor Wembanyama has redefined the NBA giant archetype: “He’s a Rubik’s cube”
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
