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Draymond: Not playing LeBron in Finals is 'kind of a mindf---'

Garrett Ellwood / National Basketball Association / Getty

The last time the NBA Finals didn't include both the Golden State Warriors and four-time league MVP LeBron James was five years ago in 2014.

Warriors forward Draymond Green knows his team will have to adjust to some fresh competition with the Larry O'Brien Trophy at stake.

"It's just weird to look over there to know that you're going to play someone completely different," Green told Bleacher Report's Howard Beck. "It's kind of a mindf---."

Golden State is set for its fifth straight Finals appearance and awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks to determine its opponent.

The Los Angeles Lakers failed to qualify for the playoffs this campaign, which marked the first time in 14 years that James didn't participate in postseason action. His absence also snaps a personal streak of eight consecutive Finals berths between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

"It's just weird," said Green. "More as a basketball fan than anything: 'Damn, Bron not there.' It's super weird. You always relish the opportunity to play against a talent like that."

Golden State defeated James' Cavaliers three out of four times (2015, 2017, and 2018), with its lone series loss coming after a historic 3-1 collapse in 2016.

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