Warriors' Draymond Green explains viral moment with Kings' Darius Acuff Jr.

Warriors' Draymond Green explains viral moment with Kings' Darius Acuff Jr. originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Draymond Green is one of the smartest players in the NBA, and he loves to share his knowledge, even with the opposition.

The cameras caught Green expressively talking to Kings rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. on Saturday evening during Golden State’s 111-106 preseason victory over the Kings.

Draymond Green gave Darius Acuff Jr. some advice on the sideline during last nights game. You love to see it.

(via @MrBuckBuckNBA, h/t @RTNBA) pic.twitter.com/YwwChpXkg0

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 11, 2026

On Tuesday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors’ veteran expounded on his interaction with Acuff.

“I saw something in that game on a possession that I was speaking with Acuff about,” Green said. “He had the ball the entire possession. Ultimately, down the stretch, late in the possession, he ended up getting fouled at the rim, but my advice to him was just, ‘Hey man, you remember that possession? … who else touched the ball that possession?’ He’s like ‘Nobody.’ Don’t have many of those because you can end up having a bunch of those.”

Green further stated that rookies on “rebuilding” franchises like the Kings can easily create bad habits through unlimited shots because they still are figuring out a direction.

Now 36, Green harkened back to his early days in the NBA when a former coach gave him a profound suggestion.

“(Former Warriors assistant coach) Pete Meyers said something to me that stuck with me my rookie year,” Green added. “He said, ‘Yo, you owe it to the game to leave it in a better place than it was when you found it.’ What does that mean, right? And for me, that means several different things. But more importantly, I think for me, when I got some knowledge, when I see a young guy doing something that I can maybe help out, that may help him at some point in his career, I always want to try to share that knowledge.”

Green and Acuff also have a hometown connection, with both being from Michigan.

Both were a part of The Family, a Detroit-based AAU team whose high school groups are a part of the Nike Elite Basketball Youth Program (EBYP) Basketball Circuit.

Green said he “always wants to see young guys do well that come from The Family,” and is rooting for Acuff “like nobody’s tomorrow.”

The Kings and Warriors will play each other four times this season, which gives Acuff multiple chances to show Green if he has put his advice into action.

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