Draymond Green has questioned the effectiveness of the NBA Play-In Tournament, suggesting the current format fails to properly reward teams over the course of a full season.
The Golden State Warriors forward has never been shy about sharing his views, and this time his criticism focused on how the system impacts competitiveness late in the year.
Green’s comments come as teams continue to navigate the Play-In race. Because, in his view, the structure creates the wrong incentives.
Draymond Green says the NBA Play-In format allows teams to coast late in the season
Green shared his thoughts in comments captured via Anthony Slater, where he questioned the logic behind the current setup.
His argument centered on how teams can still remain in contention regardless of poor late-season form.
Green said, “We could have lost our last 15 games and been stuck in 10th, it ain’t working. You know, but it works for a little bit.
“But, you know, if you could lose all the last 15 games of your season when you could be stuck in 10th, it ain’t working.”
The concern highlights a perceived lack of urgency created by the system, where regular-season performance may not carry enough weight.
Draymond Green points to in-game decisions as proof that the Play-In lacks urgency
Green also pointed to specific situations as evidence that the format is not driving the right level of competition.
The Warriors star said, “I saw a team [Sacramento Kings] tonight foul Seth Curry with 3 minutes to go in the game for no reason in the penalty. It ain’t working. You know, we want to make playoffs, so it works, I guess.
He concluded, stating: “Well, listen, you go on the road in a game that you need to win. I think you know, as a competitor, you’re going to rise to the challenge, you know, but I’m not going to sleep tomorrow night like, man, we got this Play-In next week. Got to get my rest. No, it ain’t that exciting.”
The point he makes is about intensity, suggesting the Play-In does not create the same level of urgency or anticipation as traditional playoff scenarios.
For Green, that gap is enough to question whether the system is achieving what it was designed to do.
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