Steve Kerr Names Warriors' 'Leader' Without Hesitation After Game 7 Win

The Golden State Warriors salvaged their first-round series with an impressive Game 7 win Sunday night in Houston, defeating the Rockets after nearly collapsing by blowing a 3-1 series lead.

In a win-or-go-home scenario, few players are more reliable than Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green—all of whom stepped up in key moments—while Buddy Hield emerged as the unexpected hero with a game-high 33 points.

Following the win, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made it clear who the true leader of the team is, and surprisingly, it’s not Curry—it’s Draymond Green.

“As I've said, Draymond… he’s our leader,” Kerr told reporters. “When he’s right like he was tonight, he’s an incredible player to watch. The defense—he was kind of owning the court on that side of things. And then just being patient, not turning it over, and being in the right spots offensively.”

Many would point to Stephen Curry as the leader of the Warriors, but often, the vocal heartbeat of a team isn’t its best scorer—it’s the one who sets the tone. For Golden State, that’s Draymond Green.

When Green is firing on all cylinders and fully locked in on both ends of the floor, the Warriors become an incredibly tough team to beat. He brings a Defensive Player of the Year mindset, along with relentless hustle, sharp passing, timely rebounding, and a knack for making the right plays in the biggest moments—exactly what he delivered on Sunday against the Rockets.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks with the media before the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

While his impact doesn’t always jump off the stat sheet, his Game 7 performance was a complete one: in 39 minutes, he posted 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal—all while committing just one turnover.