The Golden State Warriors have been one of the best and most exciting teams in the NBA through the first half of the season. Steph Curry is playing at a MVP level, Klay Thompson is molding himself as one of the best two-guards in the NBA, and Steve Kerr is in the running to win the NBA Coach of the Year award. As the Warriors sit at the top of the Western Conference they have a lot to be proud of as a team. It’s quite obvious to point out why the Warriors are succeeding, but the Swiss army knife of the Golden State Warriors is the engine of the team’s success. That player is Draymond Green.
Green has been arguably the best role player in the NBA this season, and should be a front-runner for the most improved player in the NBA. The third year pro from Saginaw, Michigan is having his best year of his career in his first season as a starter. Prior to Steve Kerr’s arrival, Green thrived under Mark Jackson, but never played more than 22 minutes per game. Now that Green is a starter his minutes and production has nearly doubled in some areas. When watching Green, he doesn’t pass the eye test to some. So called experts salivate over athleticism, dunks, and three pointers, but in Green’s case he is a basketball player not an athlete. There are so many young players with holes in their game, because they rely on athleticism more than skill, and Green is not one of those players.
To call Green a jack-of-all-trades is about right, because there is nothing on the court that he can’t do. Green is averaging a shade over 12.0ppg to go along with 3.8 apg, 8.2 rpg, 1.5blks, 1.5 steals, and is shooting a respectable 34% from deep. With Green in the lineup– he gives the Warriors the toughness that they have been missing over the years, and his versatility is tough to match up with. Having the skills to play the small forward and power forward positions gives the Warriors the option to play big or small, while still having Green on the floor. With Green at the power forward position opposing power forwards can’t guard him, and he is able to provide spacing, ball-handling, and shooting with his multi-facet skill set. On the other hand, if Green is at small forward he gives the team another quality perimeter defender and a person that can help alleviate ball-handling duties for Steph Curry whenever he wants to go into catch and shoot mode.
The Warriors have a found a gem in Green, and he could be the difference in the team advancing further in the Western Conference playoffs. It’s a treat to watch a player like Green, because he is a throwback type of player. Green played all four years at Michigan State, and he is a testament of how improving in college is supposed to be. His work ethic and attitude that was instilled in from Tom Izzo shows in the way he approaches business in the NBA. He plays with no ego, and he is willing to do anything his coach or teammates ask of him. In an era of entitlement amongst the younger players in the NBA, you find great appreciation for players like Draymond Green. If you haven’t paid attention to what Green does on the court—I advise you to wake up and pay attention.
