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[Saba Sports News] From 2015 to 2018, the Cavaliers and Warriors faced off in four consecutive NBA Finals, creating one of the most intense rivalries in recent history.
During this period, Draymond Green was so wary of the competition that he refused to let reporter Chris Haynes around the Warriors, believing Haynes was a spy sent by LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
“Draymond was like, ‘I don’t trust you, bro,’” Haynes recalled. “He thought I was a Cavs spy sent by LeBron and said, ‘We’re not messing with y’all, and I’m making sure nobody talks to you.’ He was dead serious. I couldn’t believe it.”
Today’s NBA sees less of this kind of cutthroat rivalry, partly due to frequent roster changes and more teams competing for championships. Since 2019, six different teams have won the title, making it difficult for rivalries like Cavs-Warriors to develop.
While Green and LeBron are now good friends, their early rivalry highlights just how intense those Finals battles were, with Green even suspecting Haynes of being a spy.