Western Conference Notes: Green Eyes Defensive Milestone, Edwards Progresses, Smith Breaks Out, Kidd Clarifies Irving Outlook
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November 4, 2025 — Draymond Green says the prospect of joining a select group of players with 10 All-Defensive Team selections is fueling his 13th NBA season with Golden State. In a conversation with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the 35-year-old forward—already a nine-time honoree—called the milestone “a huge, huge, huge goal.” Only Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippen and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have reached double-digit appearances on the league’s premier defensive list.
Green told Amick that recent improvements in his conditioning could extend his career beyond what he once expected. “I wouldn’t necessarily say [I have] one more year or two, like I would have said a year ago,” he said. “The game will tell me when it’s time to go.”
Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards has been cleared for contact work after missing four games with a right hamstring strain, Minnesota announced Monday. The club did not set a return date, but the update signals the 22-year-old guard could be back shortly if no setback occurs.
Lakers vs. Trail Blazers
With LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sidelined Monday, Los Angeles defeated Portland 123-115 on the second night of a back-to-back. Rui Hachimura paced the Lakers, while Blazers center Deandre Ayton posted strong numbers in defeat.
The surprise of the night was rookie guard Nick Smith Jr., whose 25 points came less than a month after he signed a two-way contract with Los Angeles following his release from Charlotte. Smith, a first-round pick in 2024, played through an illness and vomited at halftime, according to Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell, but later said, “This was probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
Mavericks
Dallas head coach Jason Kidd walked back comments made in Mexico City suggesting Kyrie Irving might return from his ACL tear before 2026. Speaking Monday, Kidd said, “We still don’t have an official schedule for Kai. Once that comes out, then we can start to speculate if he’s going to be back by ’25. We do miss him. But hopefully it is sooner rather than later.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
