The Golden State Warriors tipped off in style with a 119-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The matchup carried extra intrigue because LeBron James was sidelined for the first opening night of his 23-year career. Analysts have strongly suggested that the veteran’s sciatica issue, given his age, may be more problematic to manage than initially thought. JJ Redick had spent the entire preseason plugging different gaps, but to no avail. A third-quarter system failure had the Purple & Gold in trouble, and Draymond Green weighed in on why.

Green, the physical veteran forward at the Bay, spoke about how unusual it was not having James on the court. “LeBron’s old a– was over there in his Phil Jackson chair,” he joked.

“No. It’s always different when he’s not out there. Obviously, we’ve had battles with Luka as well. Luka is an incredible player. But Bron is Bron, you know. And the battles that we’ve had over the years, you look forward to those… So it’s really odd not seeing him out there,” Green passionately said. The Warriors vet, who has shared many battles with LeBron, including four Finals series, clearly sees James as the team leader.

Green noted how pivotal it was for the Lakers to miss Bron’s impact on the game, leaving the Slovenian overburdened. “That’s also why you go in and get a Luka Doncic – you know he’s a 1A too, and he showed that tonight,” the floor general said, highlighting Doncic’s 43-point barrage against the Warriors.

Despite Doncic’s best efforts, the Lakers failed to keep up with the Warriors on offense. Dray also shared his perspective on James‘ injury. The 40-year-old is dealing with sciatica, a nerve irritation issue in his right glute. “I’ve dealt with what Bron is dealing with; I don’t wish that on my worst enemy,” he explained.

“You live that all day, every day, your legs and your glutes start jumping. You just standing there talking to someone, you get pain shooting down your leg and cramps… It’s not like there’s a real timetable; you just have to go and see how far you can push it, and then see how much further you can push it. It’s a crappy injury, so definitely wishing him a speedy recovery,” Green said.

Finally, the Warriors vet hoped for more matchups against King James once he returns. “We enjoyed him, battles against him, and we’re all not sure how many of them we have left. Definitely want to embrace him and have the opportunity to have a few more of those battles,” he said, highlighting the mutual respect and competitive spirit that drives their NBA rivalry.

Draymond Green praises Jimmy Butler, eases team chemistry concerns…

After the win against the Lakers, Draymond Green expressed how Jimmy Butler has now become a bright spot for the Warriors. “One of the better teammates I’ve had, no question. He’s the ultimate team guy,” the veteran said, highlighting Butler’s ability to elevate his teammates, especially displayed during his time with the Miami Heat. And with a long season ahead of them, his presence is going to help anchor the Warriors both on and off the court.

“It’s been fun having him as a teammate. The chemistry is great,” Green said, and he’s not the only one. Playoff Jimmy and guard Buddy Hield have had a well-documented friendship since the midseason trade that brought him to the Bay.

Looking ahead, Draymond sees his energy mixing well with Jimmy’s as the season continues. Both are known for their strong personalities, and the Bay Area floor general wanted to ensure that the rumors suggesting they weren’t getting along were stopped before they started again. “Everybody can stop worrying about me and Jimmy,” he said, signaling confidence that the Warriors are building a strong foundation.

With the Lakers game behind them, the Warriors will now return home to Chase Center to play the Nuggets on the 23rd. Against the reloaded Denver roster around Nikola Jokic, Jonathan Kuminga will be a key X-factor, especially if he can replicate his top playmaking and outside shooting from tonight in subsequent outings.

Against the dominant 3x MVP, Draymond Green and Al Horford will have their work cut out for them. Just last year, Jokic dropped a monstrous performance in the Bay: 33 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. The Dubs will have to lock in on defense and contain the supporting pieces around Joker to stand a chance.