Warriors reach five-year deal with Draymond Green

The Warriors reached agreement with Draymond Green on a five-year contract extension, the second-round draft-turned heartbeat of the team announced Wednesday. Yahoo Sports reported the deal was worth $85 million.

“I’m proud to say that I’ll be a Warrior for at least the next five years,” Green said from Southern California in a recorded video for Bleacher Report. “It’s been a long journey to get to this point whether it’s always trying to overcome the odds, overcome the doubters. To be in this position signing back long-term with the Warriors is amazing.

“It’s an organization that I love, it’s great being a part of. Best fans in the NBA. First-class organization. I think staying with the Warriors is very, very important to me. It was a very important thing for me to do, obviously coming off a championship. We’re thinking we can win a lot of championships.”

The agreement with Green, which had long been expected, came within the first 24 hours that NBA free agents could negotiate with teams. The two sides had met Tuesday evening, with the deal coming together after Yahoo reported Wednesday afternoon that talks had reached an impasse.

Green averaged career highs of 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds in the Warriors’ championship season as he grabbed a starting spot and never let go. He saved one of his best performances for last, notching a triple-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the clinching Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Green thanked his mother, his hometown of Saginaw, Mich. along with coaches and former players from Michigan State who had helped him.