The first game-winner for any player is a special moment. However, in some cases, it is more a case of luck and a blown assignment than some mind-numbing play. Unfortunately, going up against the vaunted Miami Heat big 3 featuring LeBron James, that is the situation Draymond Green found himself in. While relatively new to the league, Green wasn’t known for his scoring prowess.  But, a bad defensive rotation saw him get an easy money layup for the win. More than a decade later, Draymond found the same rotator as a guest on the Draymond Green show.

Shane Battier was a key cog for the legendary Miami run to begin the 2010s decade. While Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron got the limelight, role players like Battier were essential for the team’s success. Due to his 3-point shooting ability and elite defensive instincts, Shane was a seamless fit on the team. However, those same instincts unfortunately led to a premature mistake.

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As the Golden State Warriors superstar would flex on his former opponent, Battier had to explain what went down, and the regret he holds to this day. “There was a young in the 2012-2013 season that hit his first game-winner on you guys, walk off in Miami. Yep, felt really good about that.” 

Shane, on his part, hadn’t forgotten. “I remember that. I missed up that coverage. It still haunts me, like, I always pride myself on always thinking and doing the right thing…I was guarding you actually and Steph [Curry] was coming off a screen and I prematurely switched off and I shouldn’t have. I stayed home, and you slipped, and finished.” 

But, rather than gloat, Green believes it was a testament to the 2x NBA Champion.

When our greatest strength becomes a flaw

According to the former DPOY, it was his opponent’s impeccable instincts that allowed him to score. While confirming that the Curry switch was indeed the designed play, the early switch is what caused a change in plans and gave the 4x NBA Champion his first buzzer-beater.

But, Shane wasn’t easy to console “I was so hot. I’ll never forget that as long as I live. That’s the only time I think I messed up the end of the game when it mattered defensively in my entire career, and it still haunts me to this day.” 

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Sometimes, our greatest strength becomes our worst enemy. While he has no complaints about his tenure with the Heat during that time, that one-blown coverage was but a minor chapter in an otherwise excellent story.

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