Draymond Green and Tony Allen recently engaged in a little debate about the best defender in NBA history. The Golden State Warriors star took that honor for himself during an appearance on the ‘Dubs Talk’ podcast, where he showed his confidence again and made the case for himself.
“I think I’m the best defender to ever play this game,” Green stated on Tuesday. “One hundred percent. That’s my opinion.”
This statement made a lot of noise around the league and former players reacted to that; Kendrick Perkins said that Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Garnett, and Ben Wallace were better defenders than Green but the former big man wasn’t the only one disagreeing with Dray’s claims.
Hakeem Olajuwon, Ben Wallace and Kevin Garnett were all better defenders than Draymond!!! Carry on… https://t.co/cKlxOrVJqd
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 23, 2021
One of the best defenders the league has seen in recent times, Tony Allen, also chimed in, going after Green and asking him who gave him the stamp and why he feels with the right to call himself the best defender ever.
“BIG cap!!! Who stamped you? Who you clamp!?In the words of Jay Z! “We don’t believe u, u need more people!”” Allen wrote on Twitter.
Truth to his style, Draymond replied to the former Memphis Grizzlies player, reminding him that the Warriors beat him and his Grizzlies on their way to the 2015 NBA championship.
“I was waiting on you to stamp me Big homie, but your stamp book started running low in 2015 when we used you against your team on the way to my 1ST championship.”
I was waiting on you to stamp me Big homie, but your stamp book started running low in 2015 when we used you against your team on the way to my 1ST championship. https://t.co/mDHfltdfZ0
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 23, 2021
While Draymond had a big reply to Allen, it’s fair to remember that he was named as the toughest defender by several players, including the late Kobe Bryant, who didn’t hesitate to show his respect for Tony.
“It’s easy, Tony Allen,” Kobe said a couple of years ago. “Tony Allen, he would play straight up, he would play physical —I’ve scored 10 straight, he’s not going [to leave], he’s still being visible, he’s not backing down. Tony Allen by far.”
Kobe and Allen had a lot of duels on the court during their careers but the man also made a big impression on the new generations. If Kobe’s testimony wasn’t enough, Kevin Durant said the same in 2019 during an interview with ESPN (2:08 mark).
“Shutting me down, I don’t know about that but just making it though, Tony Allen by far. The greatest defender I’ve ever played against,” Durant revealed.
It seems like Tony had two huge stamps for him with Kobe and Durant. While Draymond has been honored with defensive awards, it’s hard to find somebody talking about him that way. Still, he has the three championships and Allen has one but when you see two of your colleagues, who happen to be two of the greatest scorers in NBA history, that should mean a lot for you and the fans.
