Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green didn’t hold back when discussing his position among the NBA’s greatest defenders ever.
Green explained that people’s first thought when rating the greatest defenders is how players match up in one-on-one situations. However, the Warriors forward explained that there is much more to defense in the NBA.
“You can’t just be a great on-ball defender,” Green said. “You can’t just be a great weak-side defender. You have to put all of those things together.
“And when you’re looking at the defensive end, I think I put all those things together better than anybody in the history of the game.”
Green certainly has the numbers to back up his statement, as he won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2016-17 season and is a three-time All-Star.
Green has been named to an NBA All-Defensive Team six times in his career and led the league in steals in the 2016-17 NBA season.
The Warriors leaned on Green as the defensive anchor in their three NBA titles with him on the team, and he still has that role with the team today.
There are several players that have come through the league and have been elite defenders, but Green’s ability to guard multiple positions at a high level certainly puts him in the conversation.
Green and the Warriors are off to a great start in the 2021-22 campaign. They currently hold a 21-5 record and will take on the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
