Draymond Green is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player (he made the second team in 2016 and third team in 2017). He won Defensive Player of the Year last year, and he could win it again at June's NBA Awards. Draymond impacts every area of the game.
He does not, however, typically put up big scoring numbers. If you're looking for someone to drop 30 a night, Draymond isn't your guy—but that doesn't change the fact that he's an essential piece of what makes the Warriors special.
In Golden State's Tuesday-night win against the Spurs, which sealed the series in five games, Draymond put up 17 points, 19 boards, and seven assists. During the game, however, TNT analyst and Sacramento Kings great Chris Webber said Green may not start for some other NBA teams.
Chris Webber just said Draymond Green might not start if he played on some other teams. Don’t take my word for it. Here’s the clip. #WOW pic.twitter.com/dXHGjoWI3M
The caveat, of course, is that Webber said he wouldn't start if a team was looking to him for scoring. Still, it was a slight.
After the game, Draymond addressed the criticism.
Draymond Green on Chris Webber saying he wouldn't start on some teams: "If I did have a scorer's mentality, it would throw all of this off... I've been an All-Star twice averaging 11 points... He can't find many GMs or coaches saying I wouldn't start... My jewelry fit well." pic.twitter.com/p4mG9EibvE
He's right—it was a strange take from Webber, and it's hard to imagine many GMs or coaches would agree with it.
The Warriors advanced to take on the New Orleans Pelicans, who swept the Blazers, in the second round. Game 1 will take place Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET at Oracle Arena.
