Draymond Green remains optimistic that his team can still contend.

Green has been suspended since Dec. 13 for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a game the day before. Considering his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the NBA opted to suspend him indefinitely to ensure that he would get the necessary help.

Green has been taking part in individual counseling sessions and virtual meetings to track his progress. The meetings reportedly include members of Golden State’s front office, league office staff and National Basketball Players Association officials.

The Warriors (15-15) have fared well in Green’s absence, going 5-2 since his suspension. However, after 30 games, they sit just 10th in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the West’s top teams, like the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-7) and the Denver Nuggets (22-10), continue to gain separation.

During a recent appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” Green touched on Golden State’s placement in the standings. According to the four-time champion, the Warriors’ slow start has more to do with them than the teams above them. He added that they know what it takes to win titles, so if they lock in, they can still contend.

“You gotta pay attention to those guys and understand what they’ve got going, but I think for us, personally, we know that it’s more about us than it is about them,” Green said.

“If we can do and get to the level that we know is necessary to win championships, get to having the cohesiveness that we know it takes to win a championship, locked in on a night-in-night-out basis and committed to the process of getting better … We control our destiny. … If we play great, we win.”

It remains to be seen if the Warriors can reach the level of consistency that they have in prior seasons. However, they have been slowly trending up. Meanwhile, Green appears to be making steady progress toward his reinstatement.