When it comes to defense, players like Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Davis are often the first names mentioned.
But according to one anonymous NBA coach, LeBron James and Draymond Green are the smartest in the league on that end of the floor.
“LeBron is up there with smarts like Draymond. Those two are probably the brightest on that end of the floor.”
An anonymous coach says LeBron and Draymond are the smartest players on defense
“LeBron is up there with smarts like Draymond. Those two are probably the brightest on that end of the floor.”
(Via The Athletic) pic.twitter.com/Zp5BkGWtzQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 2, 2020
LeBron and Draymond may not be shot-blocking big men, but the pair impact the game in other ways. They can read their opponents and their strategies and often find ways to exploit them. They get the offensive player uncomfortable, read the passing lanes to steal the ball, and use their brains over their body to best the other teams.
As the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, the comment about Draymond shouldn’t be all that surprising. In fact, his defensive prowess is what makes him so valuable as a player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo85LprJoyQ
As for Bron, while he’s been criticized for his waning defensive intensity these past few years, he deserves credit for leading the charge in L.A. this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b-mliyWbMw
It’s clear from watching them on the court that both LeBron and Dray are extremely important for setting the tone of the defense for their clubs. And, like it or not, they are among the best players in the league in that category.
The anonymous NBA coach isn’t the only one to realize it.
