Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

What if... Kawhi Leonard Never Got Hurt In The 2017 NBA Western Conference Finals Against Warriors

22 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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In this YouTube segment, Warriors forward Draymond Green answers a fan’s question about the 2017 Western Conference Finals, speculating on how the series might have unfolded if Kawhi Leonard had remained healthy throughout the playoffs. Green argues that while a healthy Kawhi would have made the Spurs more competitive, the Warriors would still likely have won the series. He then expands the conversation to other classic NBA “what‑if” scenarios—Kevin Durant’s and Klay Thompson’s injuries, as well as his own 2016 Finals suspension—emphasizing the endless nature of such hypotheticals. The monologue is conversational, opinionated, and peppered with casual humor about drinking and vacation, illustrating Green’s perspective on the limits of counterfactual analysis in basketball.

Chapters

What if Kawhi never got injured in Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals against you guys? In your mind, would that Spurs team have really pushed you guys had he stayed healthy that entire season? A healthy Kawhi gives any team a chance. I personally don't think they would've had a chance to beat us. You know, they were ahead going into halftime. We were also a team that in the third quarter you get mopped and those are facts, you know? And so they probably would've been a little more competitive, but I think the series still goes in our favor the way it did. And if we were gonna sit and talk about those what-ifs, then let's talk about what What if Kevin Durant never got hurt against Kawhi? And what if Klay Thompson never got hurt against Kawhi? So I try not to get off into the what-ifs. You know, what if I didn't get suspended from Game 5 of 2016 Finals, right? Like, there's a million of 'em and we'll be what-ifin' all day. And if if was a fifth, we'd all be drunk right now. And I am not drunk. I am fresh off vacation. That's my story to your what-if. What if?