Draymond Green updates NBA contenders list: Warriors fall off, Spurs added

As the NBA season approaches the midpoint and turns toward 2026, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has updated his list of serious championship contenders—adding new teams while removing a few familiar names.

Earlier in the season, Green identified five Western Conference squads as legitimate title threats: the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and his own Golden State Warriors. That list has since changed.

Speaking on a recent episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” released Monday, Green acknowledged that the Warriors no longer belong among the league’s true contenders—at least for now.

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“We’re 16-15. Can’t say you’re a real contender at 16-15,” Green said, referring to Golden State’s record at the time, which has since improved to 17-16. “However, I think it’s starting to come together for us. And I think for us, the one thing that stands out is that we have a great defense.”

That defensive identity was on display in the Warriors’ 120–107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. Following the win, Golden State owns a defensive rating of 109.7—fifth-best in the NBA and third-best in the Western Conference.

Green believes the Warriors’ inconsistent offense has been the primary reason behind their uneven record.

“What has struggled is our offense, and now our offense is starting to turn the corner. Great defense, top two defense in the league, you can contend with that,” Green explained. “And so, we’re not a serious contender right now– because of the record, we’re not even a playoff team right now. But, down the line, I think the Warriors are returning to your list of serious contenders.”

🏀 👑 Draymond Green reacts to the #Warriors‘ “fading dynasty” & the reality behind Steve Kerr’s recent comments pic.twitter.com/L3s56WFU4u

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) December 29, 2025

Golden State appears to be trending upward, having won four of its last five games while averaging 122.4 points per contest during that stretch—well above its season average of 115.1 points per game.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, Green removed the Clippers from his contenders list due to their disappointing 10–21 start. The Nuggets and Thunder, however, remain firmly in the championship conversation, while the Lakers have slipped slightly.

“The Lakers, they’re a fringe. If they can’t figure out the defensive end, you can’t contend,” Green said. “But, if they can figure out the defensive end, we know they have the offensive firepower…

“… Right now, they’re on the fringe but not quite a real contender.”

Green also added a new team to his Western Conference list: the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs currently sit at 23–9 and have already notched three wins this month against the defending champion Thunder.

In the Eastern Conference, Green offered high praise for the Detroit Pistons.

“They got a serious-contender record, and they’re putting it together,” Green said. “And like I said before, they lost a series they should have won last year. So, I think you have to put them in that category out of the East.”

Green also mentioned the New York Knicks as one of the East’s top teams, though he categorized them more as fringe contenders than true title favorites.

With the season still in its early stages, Green noted that the grind of January could soon bring greater clarity—not just for his evolving contenders list, but for the NBA landscape as a whole.

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