Perhaps in the transformation of the Warriors from league darlings to newfound villains, the player at the center of the vitriol directed at this team may not be Kevin Durant, but Draymond Green.

Green is an antagonizer and a pest, and I say that with the utmost respect, because this is a tough league, and in order for teams to get over the hump, they need a certain mental edge that a player like Green can help provide.

It certainly helps when that guy is also a top 10 NBA player, and arguably the most versatile defender in the NBA. Green isn’t a goon out on the court who lacks skill and is only asked to throw his weight around recklessly. He’s a star player who happens to wear his emotions on his sleeve and doesn’t back down from confrontations.

Ethan Sherwood Strauss has a great story on ESPN about where Green’s head is right now. It’s been a very turbulent last few months for Green, and he’s now preparing for the Summer Olympics with the type of admirable focus only possible through the kind of self-confidence and security that a guy like Green has cultivated.

The main takeaway from Green’s mindset is that he’s not going to change who he is both on and off the court, because that tenacity has lead him to be successful in the NBA.

The kicking incident in the Western Conference Finals, being suspended for game 5 of the NBA Finals, and now being arrested for assault this offseason are events that have transpired and certainly given Green an opportunity for self reflection, but he sounds committed to learning from his errors without diving into any personal transformations.

Part of what makes Green a fantastic player is his fiery demeanor out on the court. It would be a shame if he lost that edge trying to conform to how the public thinks a player should behave. Imagine guys like Dennis Rodman, Rasheed Wallace, Bill Lambeer, or Ron Artest swallowing that anger and passively participating in the action of an NBA game.

Of course, there’s middle ground here that can be met. A hurricane can be harnessed to control its chaotic destruction. Green can still play with intensity without flailing his legs and risking someone getting hurt because of those kicks. Just like Artest could have brought that same passion to the court without being compelled to jump into the stands and transfer that anger towards fans.

Green doesn’t have to change who he is or how he plays, but he does have to be smarter about putting himself in bad situations, which are often tied to his fiery intensity.

LeBron James certainly lured Green into that game 5 suspension, but it wouldn’t have gotten to that point if Green hadn’t already accumulated all of his reckless fouls prior to that.

It sounds as if Green was similarly baited into his assault charge by a guy looking to pick a fight with a professional athlete.

There’s a pattern that’s developing here. There’s consequences for your actions, and Green’s passion has definitely helped him be successful on the court, but if that fire remains uncontrolled, it can do unnecessary damage.

Green doesn’t have to change who he is, but he needs to to learn how to harness that aggression, because if he doesn’t, people who don’t have his best interest in mind can exploit it and use it as a self-destruction tool.

In terms of his flailing legs to try to draw fouls, he needs to be careful, and accept the consequences if those blows end up hurting another player.

Often times punishment is the best deterrent for an action, and if he gets suspended at some point next season for kicking a player inadvertently, then it’ll probably convince him to not do that anymore.

Green is a great player, and he is crucial to the success of the Warriors. Not only is he extremely talented, but his vocal tenacity provides a spark for this team that elevates their play. He should feel very secure in knowing that he’s a big reason that the Warriors are one of the premier teams in the NBA.

He’s not going to change who he is, and if he can have the presence of mind to avoid putting himself in precarious situations, the Warriors should be thrilled.