ESPN: Steph Curry's Leadership of Draymond Green Questioned by 'High-Level' Insiders

Some around the NBA are beginning to ask questions of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry after Draymond Green was ejected four minutes into Wednesday's 101-93 win over the Orlando Magic, according to ESPN's Jay Williams.

During Thursday's edition of First Take, Williams said he's "getting texts from people that I really value their decision—high-level people."

"What these texts are reading is, 'How about the leadership of Stephen Curry?'" he said. "That's where these conversations are going."

Williams explained the messages were about Curry "not controlling Draymond." (The conversation begins at the 6:08 mark.)

Only Curry will know what was going on inside his head after Green received two technical fouls in quick succession in the first quarter. Based on his reaction in the moment and toward the end of the game, one can surmise he wasn't exactly thrilled.

The two-time MVP looked frustrated after Green made his way to the locker room.

After hitting a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to effectively seal the win, he kicked a chair on the Warriors' bench during a stoppage in play.

Williams isn't the first person, or even the first personality on First Take, to tie Green's on-court antics to a perceived lack of leadership from Curry. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith raised the point in December after Green struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić, which ultimately drew a suspension from the NBA.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called that line of thinking "sickening" and "disgusting."

Green also said on his podcast he was "crushed" by the idea because "[Curry] does everything the right way and yet he's being torn down because of my actions?"

It's hard to know what any level of intervention by Curry would achieve at this point.

Playing close to the edge is part of what has made Green—and, by extension, the Warriors— so successful. Golden State might not have four championships to show from its dynastic run otherwise.

Expecting the 34-year-old to dramatically change at this point in his career is also unrealistic. He said all of the right things in January after his suspension ended and underwent counseling during his time away. Here we are months later in basically the same place.

That isn't Curry's fault.

The only question with the 10-time All-Star is whether he reaches a breaking point and decides Golden State's best path forward is without Green altogether.