When Draymond Green received the most first place votes for NBA Defensive Player of the Year in May, he still did not claim the award. His immediate response? Comparing himself to Al Gore, who won the 2000 Presidential Election popular vote, but wasn’t granted the presidency.
In both cases, malfeasant “voter fraud” of sorts ran rampant. When the Dancing Bear analogized himself with the man trying to save the polar bear, it was yet another example of what makes Green such a great individual– on and off the court.
Going Green is certainly a theme here as Green’s alma mater, Michigan State, uses the two word phrase as their battle cry. It’s the same mantra of environmentalism. Green is a huge reason the Golden State Warriors head into the NBA All-Star Break and 48-4, with a 92% winning percentage and well on pace to break the Chicago Bulls 72-10 mark for best record in a NBA season.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives them an 87% chance to win 70 games, 55% chance to tie the record, 35% chance to break it.
Former NBA Coach and ESPN NBA Analyst P.J. CARLESIMO on Green’s development:
“To me, I don’t think anybody other than Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, these guys were good players and ironically the three of them kind of came into the league with the reputation as defensive players. In Draymond’s case, he fills the entire stat sheet up.”
“I don’t think there is anybody in the league that can defend as many positions as well, but then on top of that, he’s become such a knockdown, three-point shooter, on the fast break, the decision making, in the pick-and-rolls and in transition. He’s literally elevated his game each year.”
Green had a phenomenal four year career at Michigan State where he kept trending upward each year. That’s carried over from East Lansing into the NBA.
Carlesimo continued “that’s the thing that’s really impressive to me because these guys, he in particular and those guys as a group, they’re not content with the fact that they’ve arrived. They work on their game and come back better players than when they left.
Detroit Pistons legend and ESPN NBA Analyst Chauncey Billups just had his number retired by the club this week. He also joined Carlesimo on a media conference call this week. He’s known Green since he was about 15 and used to come to the Palace and serve as a ball boy.
“The layers that he’s peeling back every single season with his game, not only offensively but defensively and mentally,” said Billups
“That team literally feeds off of his toughness and his tenacity out there, and it’s funny because so did the Spartans. He’s become what he was in college now in the professional ranks. And I don’t know if any of us, including Draymond, thought that would happen.”
Like the slogan says, “who will? Spartans will.” Green is a Spartan Warrior now.
We hear about the Splash Brothers incessantly, and rightfully so. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are not just elite players, but also extremely fun to watch. They overshadow Draymond Green to some extent.
TNT Analyst Chris Webber on the Warriors:
“When Draymond Green isn’t in the game, Thompson is the best defender on the check. He plays the perfect role. When I look at that team, I see it as a reflection that they are the best individually and at understanding their peg on the totem pole.”
“The most impressive thing about them is their attention to detail, guys sacrificing for others but embracing their role no matter how large or small. It makes them even more enjoyable to watch.”
There’s so much more to GSW than the Splash Brothers.
“We marvel over the Splash Brothers and what they do but the ‘others’ are vitally important to how they get it done,” said Shaquille O’Neal.
Writing about the continued rise of Draymond Green is getting to be annual tradition now.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram