Draymond Green Credits Jerry Stackhouse for Leadership Growth with the Warriors

Draymond Green has emerged as a stronger leader for the Golden State Warriors, largely thanks to the influence of assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse during the 2024-25 NBA season.

Following a tense moment with Stackhouse during the Warriors’ 95-85 Game 1 victory over the Houston Rockets in the 2025 Western Conference first-round playoffs, Green took time to explain how the former NBA veteran has shaped his development as a leader. Speaking on *The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis*, Green shared insights on how Stackhouse’s experience has made a significant impact on his approach to leadership.

"Stackhouse has been huge for me – just the relatability,” Green explained. “He’s an extreme alpha. Real alphas respect and appreciate other real alphas. He’s helped me so much because, in a sense, he was a lot like me. He’s helping me grow from a 50-year-old standpoint, like, ‘I was him (Green).’”

Green went on to detail how Stackhouse, who spent 18 seasons in the NBA, has guided him in refining his leadership style. “There are times when I said something during the season, and he’ll come up to me and be like, ‘Yo, that was great. Now what you do is go and build them up.’ And I’m like, ‘Ahh,’” Green recalled.

Standing 6-foot-6, Stackhouse was a two-time NBA All-Star known for his tough, vocal leadership, much like Green. Over 970 career games, he averaged 16.9 points per game and was recognized for his communication both on and off the court. That experience has translated well into his role with the Warriors, where he’s become a key figure in Green’s growth as a leader.

“He’s just helping me become a better leader, helping me see things,” Green said of Stackhouse. “Stack doesn’t do much with our offense; he does a lot of defense. But he’s a great offensive mind. The way he sees the game, I think Stackhouse is going to be an incredible head coach in the NBA, because he’s going to have the respect of players, and he knows how to play the game.”

Green also expressed a desire to keep Stackhouse with the Warriors for the long term. However, he acknowledged the possibility of other teams poaching one of Golden State’s prized assistants, especially considering the interest in names like Kenny Atkinson, who is currently a Coach of the Year finalist with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“He’s been huge,” Green said. “If some of these people are smart, they’re going to try to hire him. But I hope they don’t pull him away from us, because he’s great for us, man. Golly, I hope they don’t pull him away from us.”

As the Warriors push forward in the playoffs, Green and the team will continue to rely on Stackhouse’s expertise, especially as they navigate the intensity of the postseason.