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Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green finally crossed the line

By Criss Partee

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Has Draymond Green finally crossed the line between confidence and delusion?

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green sent the NBA world into an uproar earlier this week, when he proclaimed himself, the best defensive player in NBA history. So of course, once this proclamation was sent out into the world and the Twittersphere, the only part of what Green stated was the part where he crowned himself the greatest defensive player ever.

Green is no media newbie, and he surely isn’t a stranger to controversy. The 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year let it all out and did not mince his words on the latest episode of the “Dubs Talk” podcast.

"“I think I’m the best defender to ever play this game,” Green explained."

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"“One-hundred percent, that’s my opinion. But I also think I view the game a lot differently than most people view the game. I think I just see it from a different perspective. I think when you look at the things that make a great defender: reaction time, toughness, being able to see the picture long before it develops, and most importantly, in order to finish a defensive possession, you’ve got to rebound. And I think I rebound well.…So, I’m think I’m the best defender to ever play in the NBA. I’ll stand by that. I’ll put myself up against anyone.”"

Never a dull moment when Draymond Green is around, that’s for sure. Regardless of whether you buy into his logic or not, you have got to love his confidence. Or maybe it’s just his delusion? To make it to the NBA you have to believe you’re the best at some point, whether you truly believe it deep down or not.

Though in Green’s case, it sounds as if he truly believes he is the best defender the league has ever seen. It doesn’t sound like anyone aside from Draymond buys this. But if he believes it then who is anyone to tell him otherwise?

Stats and awards are awesome, and the analytics crew can go to town all day with that. What about the eye test? Put Green up against some of the greatest defenders the NBA has seen and just watch. Maybe Draymond forgot about a little invention known as YouTube? We can all go back and watch clips and even entire games of some of these players going back 30-plus years.

For just a moment, let’s step away from Green’s comments and take a look at this whole argument. There really is only one question to ask here.

Is Draymond Green even a top 10 or 20 all-time defender in NBA history? Here are a few names of former DPOY winners and NBA all-defensive players in no particular order.

– Bill Russell
– David Robinson
– Scottie Pippen
– Michael Jordan
– Tim Duncan
– Hakeem Olajuwon
– Kevin Garnett
– Gary Payton
– Jason Kidd
– Ron Artest
– Dwight Howard
– Dikembe Mutombo
– Ben Wallace
– Dennis Rodman
– Kawhi Leonard
– Lebron James
– Bruce Bowen
– Tony Allen
– Alonzo Mourning
– Mark Eaton

Right there 20 names for you to go ahead and debate over. As great as Green has been during his career on defense, he has never been known as a top-tier on-ball defender. He’s good but not in the same class as most of the names on this list, if not all of them.

Green is a great help defender and possesses great anticipation in knowing how to be in prime position on the court defensively but he’s not the greatest defender in NBA history. Not even close.

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Everyone knows there is a thin line between love and hate. Well, there is an even thinner line between confidence and delusion. Draymond Green just Nae Nae’d all over that line.

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