Green Draymondfour-time champion and outspoken leader of the Warriors of the Golden StateHe always imparts wisdom to his players. Pascal Siakam and Fred Vanvleet of the Toronto Raptors recently took part in a Rico Hines run during which Draymond gave advice to NBA dreamers. Everyone listens when Green speaks because the NBA champion often speaks the truth and doesn’t mince his words while advising aspiring professional basketball players on how to get into and stay in the NBA. The former Defensive Player of the Year knows the key to success on the big stage.
The Warriors wouldn’t be a dynasty without Draymond Green, even though he may not be the most talented player offensively. Draymond is the mastermind behind the direction of the GSW game, using the pick-and-roll to give the Splash Brothers their best looks. The Michigan State product stands just 6-foot-7 tall, but is a threat on defense. The former DPOY commands a salary of nearly $100 million while averaging single-digit earnings. So there is a reason for this. Draymond can rightfully be considered one of the best basketball minds in the league right now, as he is the best example of a star in his role.
Draymond Green and his message to young NBA candidates
Draymond Green’s scoring stats may not be enough to describe him, but he still received a number of additional accolades that demonstrate his importance. In addition to two Olympic gold medals, he already has four rings and has the possibility of getting another one in the future. He was selected to the All-Star team four times, the All-Defensive team seven times, the All-NBA team twice and was named Defensive Player of the Year for the 2016-17 season. He is sixth all-time in playoff triple-doubles and 15th overall in regular-season triple-doubles. He also ranks among the top 25 all-time in assists, steals and blocks in the playoffs.
He was an important member of one of the era-defining teams over the past decade, and his arguments were only made stronger by the addition of narration. Due to his passionate and headstrong character, he is one of the most controversial players in the NBA and has often been described as the leader, heart and soul of the dynasty. Green’s ability to play big defensively despite his small size is another way to accurately express his attitude. The 6-foot-7 forward is a key defensive force for the Warriors or any team he plays for, largely due to his talent as an unstoppable force on that side of the court.
This week, Draymond Green went viral for making a profound statement during one of Rico Hines’ famous summer workouts at UCLA. Speaking to his NBA teammates who also participated in the race, Green stressed the importance of understanding your position on the team. He attacked the players, saying, “At the end of the day, motherfuckers have to play a role in the NBA, and there’s two motherfuckers on the team that can do whatever they want and 13 other motherfuckers that have to play a role.” He continued, “So you either master your role or you get the hell out of it. And it’s that simple.”
The ideal NBA player might be 10-year veteran Draymond Green. He now thrives on using defense, rebounding, and playmaking to provide the structural support for superstar teammates like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant to produce standout performances. When it comes to this offseason, Green is also flipping the script. While he may want to tweak some of his rhetoric, Dray’s message is clear because not everyone is as talented as LeBron James or Stephen Curry and you have to play to their strengths. His message carries a level of sincerity that might not have been evident if it came from someone else.
