Draymond Green redefines the map of contenders for the NBA championship

With the NBA season advancing towards 2026, Draymond Green has updated his own list of real title contenders, making significant changes in both the Western and Eastern Conferences. The power forward of the Golden State Warriors explained his new perspective on a recent episode of his podcast, where he analyzed the current moment of several teams and adjusted his expectations based on the performance shown so far. In his previous evaluation, Green included five teams from the West as serious candidates: Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Warriors themselves. However, Golden State has temporarily exited that group. Green was clear in analyzing his team's situation, which at that time had a record of 16-15, now slightly improved to 17-16. For him, that record is not enough to talk about a real championship candidacy, although he maintains an optimistic tone for the future. The main reason for that confidence is the team's defensive level. Following a 120-107 victory against the Brooklyn Nets, the Warriors boast a defensive rating of 109.7, the fifth-best in the NBA and the third in the West. Green believes the defense has been consistent, while offensive issues have arisen. According to his analysis, that aspect is starting to be corrected, which could change the mid-term outlook. Nevertheless, he insists that with the current record and out of playoff positions, Golden State cannot yet be considered a serious contender, but a team that could potentially return to that group later on. Recent numbers support the feeling of improvement. The Warriors have won four of their last five games and, in that span, have averaged 122.4 points per game, well above the 115.1 points per game they have recorded over the entire season. Regarding the rest of his original list from the West, Green has removed the Los Angeles Clippers due to their poor start to the season, with a 10-21 record. Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder remain as solid contenders, while the Lakers drop a step. For Green, the Los Angeles team is now operating in a middle ground: they have enough offensive talent, but their defensive shortcomings prevent them, for now, from entering the category of real contenders. Only a clear improvement in that aspect could change their status. **The most positive in the West** The main positive update in the West is the inclusion of the San Antonio Spurs. With a 23-9 record, the Spurs have caught Green's attention, particularly for having secured three wins this same month against the Thunder, the reigning champions. That performance, in his view, places them within the group of contenders to be taken into account. In the Eastern Conference, Green has shown considerable respect for the Detroit Pistons. He considers their record to be that of a serious contender and highlights the team's evolution, also noting that they were eliminated in a series last season that, in his opinion, they should have won. All of this positions them, in his judgment, among the contenders in the East. He also mentions the New York Knicks as one of the top teams in the conference, although he categorizes them more as secondary contenders.

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