Draymond Green to Tom Izzo on NCAA Tournament run: "Don't screw it up"

If there was ever a player-coach combo that you'd love to listen in on conversations between, it would have to be Tom Izzo and Draymond Green.

Izzo and Green had their fair share of verbal disagreements while the latter was still wearing a Michigan State uniform, but they ended up becoming friends and they're truly like family to this day.

So when Izzo made the Sweet 16 on Sunday night with a win over New Mexico, Draymond had a motivational text for his former coach that should help him make another Final Four run, and hopefully more.

OK, so it may not have been all that motivational, but it's hilarious.

Draymond told Izzo, "Don't screw it up."

Draymond is one of the only guys in the world who can get away with saying something like this to Izzo with the NCAA Tournament still going on. Izzo has a game to prepare for on Friday night and it's texts like this one from former players that probably motivate him even more to make another Final Four and to win national title No. 2.

Michigan State has had a favorable draw so far and it will be favored to get to the Elite Eight with a win over Chris Beard and Ole Miss, but he knows that nothing's a given in March.

This team has what it takes to win a national title. All the guys have bought in, players are leading, and coaches are letting this be a player-led team. This has all the feel of a team that could bring it home for Izzo and get him motivated to repeat in 2025-26.

But all he has to do is not screw it up, like Draymond said.