The Golden State Warriors have been on a tear recently, and Draymond Green has played a huge role in their success. In a recent chat with the media, Warriors coach Steve Kerr even claimed that Draymond is the best defender he’s ever seen in the NBA.
“He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen,” Kerr said, via Dalton Johnson. “I mean, you see the pick-and-roll with Dame. If he’s in it, he kind of does this fake blitz thing with his speed, with his anticipation. He forces Dame back out towards halfcourt and he’s able to get back. The speed and recovery with Draymond is just stunning.”
In the Warriors’ 104-96 win over the Bucks this week, Draymond put on a defense clinic at the Chase Center, posting three points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks in 36 minutes. He held Giannis Antetokounmpo to 20 points on 31.3% shooting.
“Then the brain that goes with it,” said Kerr. “If he’s on the weak side, he’s constantly coming over to help. He’s one of the great defenders of all time, and he’s still doing it at a high level.”
Draymond Green is arguably the best lockdown defender in the league and it’s no secret where he stands on this year’s DPOY race. The combination of him and Jimmy Butler is currently the top-ranked defensive duo in the game and they have pulled the Warriors up to the second-best defense since the All-Star break.
As a 4x champion, 4x All-Star, and former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green is renowned for his elite defense on the interior and out on the perimeter. He was the main catalyst behind the Warriors’ dominant defense and continues to set the example for his teammates on that end of the floor.
With averages of 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game for his career, Green has never been a player who will stuff the stat sheet. Instead, he makes an impact by doing all the dirty work for the Warriors, including guarding the other team’s best player and acting as an enforcer for the group.
While Green may not be as decorated as other defensive stars (Rudy Gobert, Kawhi Leonard, and Dikembe Mutombo) he still believes he’s the best, and head coach Steve Kerr seems to agree.
During his NBA career, Kerr (5x champion) played with various defensive stars, ranging from Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen to Tim Duncan and David Robinson. And yet, out of his entire coaching career, Kerr says it’s Draymond Green who has impressed him the most on defense.
At 35 years old, Draymond is closer to the end of his career than the beginning and his legacy is a mixed bag. On one hand, Green will always be blamed for the departures of Kevin Durant and Jordan Poole but without his defensive expertise, the Warriors might never have reached the heights that they did during the peak of their dynasty.
While Draymond Green is far from perfect, the Warriors know how important he is to their success. He raises the ceiling of their defense tenfold and he sets the tone for their entire identity on the court.
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