In ‘Open Season’ Draymond Green takes you on his psychological well being journey

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MENLO PARK, Calif. — LeBron James’ rejection of the Golden State Warriors would probably be a significant storyline if Draymond Green releases a second campaign of his digital actuality remedy docuseries, “Open Season.”

It sounds just like the Warriors star remains to be disillusioned his gross sales pitch didn’t persuade James to make the “right decision” to affix him, Stephen Curry and Golden State over the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I told him all the great things,” Green instructed Andscape. “How cool would it not be for him to affix Steph, who’s just about carried the NBA for the higher a part of the final 15 years — Bron a bit of longer, however they’re the fellows. And how cool would it not be to [challenge] these younger guys who’re form of taking up? Their time is up now to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and all these [young] guys. How cool would it not be for the 2 guys who’ve battled on the most important stage for therefore a few years within the NBA — who now see these youthful guys taking up — only for one time to say, ‘Hey, fellas, we can still do this. Yeah, move over’? How dope would that be?

“Everybody speaks concerning the basketball facet. Most individuals don’t perceive how essential it’s to have teammates that you just rock with at this age. Teammates which can be like-minded. Teammates which have comparable lives. Teammates that whenever you go to dinner, you wish to go to dinner and sit with. As you become old on this league, that turns into a bizarre factor. We’ll have that. This would be the best present on Earth, by the way in which. Stephen and LeBron collectively?

“How much has [James] gotten into golf? There’s no better place to be for golf than San Francisco. I also thought from a business standpoint, there’s a whole business side of business that he hasn’t tapped into [in Silicon Valley]. From a business standpoint, what can that mean? I know for sure this would be the best organization you’ve ever played in. I know that for certain.”

So, in the end, why didn’t Green’s gross sales pitch work on his good pal?

“He just couldn’t get over the past, which is, ‘I battled these guys over and over again. What is that now going to look like for me if I come there? What type of beating am I going to take if I come there?’ And ultimately that’s why it didn’t happen. … I also think that’s why it took so long to make the decision, because I know this, [Golden State] was the right decision. He just couldn’t land on it,” Green mentioned.

Last week at Meta headquarters, Green spoke completely to Andscape about his new digital actuality docuseries, “Open Season on Draymond Green.” The challenge options six unscripted filmed remedy periods with the Warriors star and debuts beginning Tuesday on the Meta Quest TV app.

The present follows the four-time NBA champion as he works with sports activities psychologist Dr. Carrie Hastings to confront real-life struggles in the course of the 2025-26 campaign. Aiming to interrupt the cultural stigma round psychological well being, he displays on his on-court ejections, technical fouls, midseason commerce rumors, household pleasure and challenges, and the realities of navigating the late phases of his NBA profession.

In a dialog with Andscape, Green mentioned his new present and experiences in remedy. The 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year additionally spoke concerning the return of head play-caller Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry’s future with Golden State, Jimmy Butler’s well being, the Warriors’ new standing as underdogs, his preparation for his fifteenth campaign, and rather more.

“I’m nervous as hell. Super nervous,” Green mentioned concerning the docuseries. “Well, No. 1, it’s one thing that I’ve struggled with for a very long time, the considered remedy itself. From what I believed it was, then being misinformed on what it was. Two, the entire stereotypes that I’ve realized from childhood: ‘You don’t want it. It’s for the weak.’ And as soon as I began, it was like, ‘Man, this is actually great.’

“How many different children have been instructed this isn’t for them and also you shouldn’t do that? As I acquired extra snug in my very own journey, it’s after I then got here round to the considered like, ‘I’m truly OK with somebody seeing.’ But I needed to get snug within the journey first. Initially, I don’t even need you to know I’m doing it. I’m going alone time. I don’t even actually inform my spouse what I’m doing it. This is my factor.

“I’ll be completely trustworthy with you. You form of undergo these waves of like, ‘I’m comfortable as hell for individuals to see [this]. I’m nervous as f‑‑‑ and I don’t need anyone to see.’ Once I dedicated to placing it on digital camera in doing what we’ve carried out with ‘Open Season,’ I believed to myself, ‘Why not help someone else?’

“This is my journey. Why not help the kid that’s like me that’s been told you shouldn’t do that? I saw how beneficial it was for me. To fall on that mindset, it made it easier to come around, because I could look at it through a different lens. It ain’t necessarily about me. Whatever you see in my journey, it’s going to help someone else. So, if it’s through me then it ultimately helps someone else. I got to be vulnerable. I got to put myself out there. That’s how I came around to it.”

Draymond Green on the docuseries revealing his in-season remedy periods: “This is my journey. Why not help the kid that’s like me that’s been told you shouldn’t do that?”

As an African American man, are you talking to African American males particularly about utilizing a psychiatrist? (Note: In 2024, African American adults have been 36% much less probably than U.S. adults general to have obtained psychological well being remedy up to now yr, in keeping with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).

One thousand %, as a result of that’s who I can relate to. I do know that child rising up in Saginaw [Michigan] being instructed he has nowhere to show to, proper? Everyone’s opinionated about no matter it’s that that you just’re going by way of, and also you don’t actually have the area to work by way of. There’s no secure area, and so that you simply plow by way of it, proper? You simply hold pushing, hold pushing, hold pushing.

It’s so pointless. There are literally instruments on the market for you that take care of this, put you in a greater area and higher equip you to take care of issues. In explicit for me, however I do know this helps everybody as effectively. The man I can relate to most is that man, as a result of that child grew to become that man. And he grew to become that man regardless of all people saying, “You don’t need this, you don’t need that.”

All of the trauma and the whole lot that … little boy that changed into this man has handled remains to be there. It’s by no means been handled. It resurfaces in additional methods than that man is aware of. In a way, sure, I do know I can assist that particular person. But then, as you undergo this journey and also you’re speaking to increasingly more individuals, you understand it’s not simply the African American child. Everybody has their struggles.

It’s the white child that grows up within the African American neighborhood. What does he take care of, proper? It’s the Black child that grows up within the white neighborhood. What does he take care of? The Mexican [kid] who seems like he don’t match in any respect. What does he take care of? The Asian [kid] … What does he take care of? Along that journey you understand that. For me personally, I can communicate on to that child as a result of I do know that child.

There was an in-game argument with Coach Kerr that you just had final campaign throughout a timeout the place you in the end left the bench and went to the locker room. Was your response to go away somewhat than proceed the argument a consequence out of your remedy periods? I really feel like a campaign in the past, or two or three years earlier, you wouldn’t have dealt with it that means.

(Note: Words have been exchanged between Green and Kerr on the bench throughout a Dec. 22, 2025, sport towards the Orlando Magic. Green then walked again to the locker room and spent greater than eight minutes there earlier than returning to the bench in warm-ups for the remainder of the sport the Warriors got here again to victory. Kerr would later admit to reporters that the argument was “not my finest hour,” stating he wanted to stay calm within the huddle.)

That’s why I used to be in a position to stand up and depart as a result of, for the primary time in a scenario like that, I didn’t really feel the necessity to get again. I didn’t really feel the necessity so that you can hear my facet. I didn’t really feel the necessity to stand there and plow by way of regardless of the scenario was. It’s like, nope, it’s truly OK for me to simply take away myself and no matter comes of that can come from it.

What I do know is this example shouldn’t be going to get higher for me. Me staying proper right here on this second, it’s not going to permit the second to relax, [so] let me simply take away myself. I might have by no means carried out that earlier than.

I wouldn’t essentially say I realized that particularly, that I realized to stand up and depart in remedy. But all through my journey, what I’ve realized is how you can mellow myself after I have to be mellowed, how you can higher carry out in these conditions. It’s a bit of completely different than going to sequence within the sport. You’re making an attempt to determine what’s greatest for you in that scenario.

I’m comfortable. I can see that clearly now, as a result of that was 1,000% what was greatest in that scenario. I simply by no means would have cared earlier than of what’s greatest. I’d have simply did what I believed within the second, which is, “Oh, you’re going at me? All right, I’m going back. Now what?” I believe I’m simply higher suited generally to take care of these conditions in another way than I’d have earlier than.

Green (left) mentioned the way in which he dealt with a December 2025 in-game argument with head play-caller Steve Kerr was an instance of the way in which remedy has improved his understanding of how you can management his feelings. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

What do you hope individuals be taught in watching your journey?

Lots of people see me in a single gentle, and that’s the sunshine they’ve seen me on a basketball courtroom, which is nice. That’s what you already know. That’s effective. What individuals don’t see on the basketball courtroom is the daddy. What individuals don’t see on the basketball courtroom is the man who will give the shirt off his again to anyone.

For no matter cause, you don’t see that. … I don’t actually open myself up in that means, no downside. But if you happen to do know the man that’s on the basketball courtroom, the 2 don’t combine. Who higher to indicate you than me? What I hope to get out of that is quite simple truly: for everybody [to see] that it’s OK that all of us have s‑‑‑. And what you see and what you thought, that’s not the case. We battle identical to you battle. We undergo s‑‑‑ identical to you undergo s‑‑‑, and my s‑‑‑ shouldn’t be larger than your s‑‑‑ as a result of it’s my s‑‑‑. Oh, it’s simply mine. And yours, it’s yours.

But I would like individuals to know that, and it’s quite simple, that it’s OK. It’s OK to speak to somebody. It’s OK if I at all times do that to get assist. It’s truly greatest that you just go by yourself journey, as a result of this world is changing into increasingly more of an unsafe place by the day, and the place do you discover that solace? That’s what I hope to get out of this — that folks can discover their area, their journey. Your journey received’t be the identical as mine, proper? By the way in which, individuals are going to observe this and nonetheless be reluctant to start out that journey. But if you happen to begin a yr from now, no downside.

I fought myself for years, and would discuss in entrance of my teammates for years like, “Yo, I really need to go to therapy, and I know it. I’m gonna do it one day. I ain’t ready.” You acquired to seek out it at your personal pace, at your personal tempo. However, I simply need you to know, right here’s my journey. And I’m cool with placing it in entrance of you and, by the way in which, it’s OK for me to stroll as much as you and be like, “Yo, I was in therapy yesterday.” Let’s destigmatize what that is. It’s truly OK to go share along with your pal, as a result of that could be the push that your pal wants.

What do you consider LeBron’s determination to go to Philadelphia?

If you take a look at, even going to Philly, they weren’t on the radar a month earlier than. But then that’s the place you go. Well, that claims so much to me. So, I believe that’s why it [Golden State] didn’t work. [James] simply couldn’t in the end recover from, “Damn, what’s that gonna look like?” I get it.

What does Steve Kerr coming again to the bench for the Warriors imply to you? And how large a job did you sequence in him re-signing?

Zero. That was for [Kerr and Warriors management] to work by way of. However, what it means to me, it’s nice. Going into Year 15 in the identical place and adjusting to a brand new play-caller now, I really feel like that’d be a bit bizarre. Things are carried out a sure means. You go to bat with one another for therefore lengthy. I believe that will have been bizarre. So, for him to come back again, I’m enthusiastic about it. It’s nice.

I believe he acquired a renewed sense of how he’s issues, which you want generally whenever you’ve been doing one thing for therefore lengthy. You can form of keep in the established order and hold simply doing what you’re doing. But in the end, generally it’s good to get a bit of uncomfortable to maneuver ahead. I believe he acquired a bit of uncomfortable. I believe all of us did, which is nice. I don’t assume that’s a nasty factor for anybody.

How proud are you of reaching your fifteenth NBA campaign? You went from a man on the bench in summer time league to a four-time All-Star.

It’s loopy, huh? Fifteen years. I’m very happy with that, 15 years in a single place. I go searching on the guys that aren’t doing it anymore. For myself to nonetheless be doing it in Year 15, man, I’m very proud. I at all times was like, “Look man, if I can get to 15, that would be crazy.” And right here we’re staring down the barrel at it.

It’s fairly cool. I’m very happy with myself, and likewise that I can nonetheless sequence at an excellent degree, a really excessive degree. The one factor I’ve at all times mentioned, I don’t wish to be crawling by way of Year 15. I really feel like I’m about to undergo Year 15 sturdy.

What ought to we count on from the Warriors?

Well, we’re going to exit and compete. I don’t know when the final time we’ve simply been counted out like this. Maybe 2014? We weren’t counted out. We simply weren’t counted in. Now, for the primary time in 12 years, all people like, “Oh yeah, they’re absolutely done.” That’s fairly cool for some guys who got here from being underdogs. You make us begin once more. Thanks, recognize it. Needed it. Looking ahead to it. Love you.

Any optimism on Jimmy Butler’s return from knee setback from what you noticed on the Warriors’ latest voluntary gamers camp in San Diego?

Listen, Jimmy works his a– off. Jimmy works as onerous as anybody. And if there’s any likelihood, he’s the man that may do it. I do know he’s working to get again this [season]. I do know he’s not this like, “Oh, well, just go ahead and rehab all [season].” He’s working to get again. I do know that. You’re simply seeing him beginning to get on the courtroom in several methods simply generally. It’s good to see.

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA author for Andscape. He used to have the ability to dunk on you, however he hasn’t been in a position to in years and his knees nonetheless damage.