Draymond Green learned earlier this year that he has a legitimate chance to add his name to a short list of NBA legends with 10 All-Defensive seasons, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who notes that the opportunity has become a major source of motivation for the Warriors forward. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippen, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only players who have accomplished the feat in the league history. Green, who has earned nine All-Defensive nods, needs one more to join them.
“You see a list like that, and that immediately becomes your ‘why,'” Green told Amick. “It’s like, ‘Man, I need to give all that I f—ing can to be on that thing.’ When you look at a list like that and you say, ‘Man, I can be on that list.’ It’s captivating. If I’m honest, it consumes you.
“You’re always looking to add these stamps (of approval). And I think for me personally, that’s one stamp that I would love to add, for no other reason than the little kid from Saginaw being able to one day look at that list and say, ‘Damn, my name is on the list with those guys.’ …So that’s a huge, huge, huge goal of mine.”
Amick’s wide-ranging interview with Green also touched on several other topics, including how much longer the 35-year-old plans to continue playing. According to Green, he thought at one point that he might only have another year or two in him, but he has since reconsidered that position.
“My body feels better and better every year,” he said. “I’ve learned more about my body and what I need to do. I still enjoy competing at the highest level. I still enjoy setting this goal and then going through the process and trying to reach it. So I wouldn’t necessarily say (just one more) year or two, like I would have said a year ago. I don’t really put a number on it, either. Like I’ve always said, the game will tell me when it’s time to go.”
We have more from around the Western Conference:
- Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who has missed the past four games due to a right hamstring strain, has been cleared to resume contact basketball activities, the team announced on Monday in a press release. As Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic tweets, it’s a sign that Edwards’ return to action should happen sooner rather than later, barring a setback.
- With LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves all inactive on Monday, the Lakers picked up a 123-115 win over Portland on the second end of a back-to-back. While Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton had big games, Nick Smith Jr.‘s 25-point performance was the biggest surprise of the night, as Kevin Pelton of ESPN writes. Smith, a former first-round pick who joined the Lakers on a two-way deal last month after being waived by Charlotte, was reportedly battling an illness and threw up at halftime, per Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet (Twitter link), but said the game was “probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
- After raising eyebrows by hinting in Mexico City that Kyrie Irving has a chance to return from his ACL tear before the calendar turns to 2026, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd walked back those comments to some extent on Monday, tweets Christian Clark of The Athletic. “When I made the statement (in Mexico), it was more or less, ‘We would love to have him back,'” Kidd said. “But he’s doing great mentally and physically. We still don’t have an official schedule for Kai. Once that comes out, then we can start to speculate if he’s going to be back by ’25. We do miss him. But hopefully it is sooner rather than later.”
Watched the Portland – LAL game. LAL are doing what they were doing in the 2nd half of last season:
– crowd the paint and more broadly the central corridor. which is quite effective now that they have a lot of size on the team;
– push teams out wide, don’t protect the 3pt line all that well (because you’re crowding the central corridor, and you don’t have good perimeter defenders anyway), but dare teams to beat you from the outside;
– take a shot when you’re free, even if it’s a midrange jumper.
Also, Redick has been able to put his players in a good place emotionally. They play with confidence and energy; they believe they can win games even if their main guys are out.
This contrasts with some other teams, for example, GS, who, when Curry doesn’t play, mostly come out as if they’ve lost already. Players like GP2 don’t even try to hide it.
I see a lot of the same
I see ton of teams playing in 3rd gear nightly
Lakers are playing in 5th gear nightly. Credit JJ no doubt
I was harsh on Smart early but the energy him La Ravia and Vando are exhibiting is contagious and something we have severely lacked since the bubble team in all honesty
That Lakers win was almost 100% due to a phenomenal game from 2-way Nick Smith Jr.
Sure, Rui and Ayton played well, but he was fantastic – 25 pts on 67%/83% (5-6 threes)!
The only time Greymond and Tim Duncan are mentioned in the same sentence is when someone says,
“Greymond is no Tim Duncan.”
Thought winning a chip would be his “why”, but each to their own.
You mean, a 5th chip?
At Gary. Or any of the names mentioned. Nowhere near any of them.
Draymond and Gobert are going to be linked together when it’s all said and done.
Garnett, Duncan, Bryant and Kareem will also be linked.
Pippen is probably the bridge that fits either group.
The distinction between the two groups being significant and irreplaceable offensive contribution.
It appears you know nothing about warriors basketball.
If we’re comparing dynasties, Draymond is closer to Derek Harper than Pippen.
If we’re comparing total impact on the game, he is laughed out of the conversation in comparison to any of Garnett, Duncan, Bryant and Kareem.
Umm, dynasty free Derek Harper has zero rings.
Sorry, Ron Harper. But thanks for your ability to understand NBA history with a complete lack of nuance.
Draymond will be known as a championship player and Gobert will be know as a no ring big man. Very different.
Yes, but this article isn’t about that. It’s about people who have been voted 10 times to all-defense. Garnett only has one ring, you can’t reasonably think Draymond is better than him.
Gobert and Draymond, if they even make it to 10, will just be trivia fodder while discussing the actual true two-way greatness of the other players.
And if you really want to nitpick, Kareem is in a class above the rest all by himself. Just like Draymond and Rudy are in a class way below everyone else (if they even make it)
Nobody is saying Green is one of the top 50 players of all time. Nobody is saying he is a offensive 2 way player. So you are changing it to 2 way players not defensive player. Is that what you are doing changing the subject?
The comment starting this discussion, which you replied to talking about rings, is exactly about this subject of two way players being distinct from Gobert and Green and why those two will be linked because of their lack of offense. I don’t know what you think I’m changing the subject about?
Nobody brought up offense it was about 10 x defense.
I did. I brought it up. Using it as a separator between Gobert and Green on the defense side, and the other people in the group they might one day join who did it on both ends.
they will never join the offensive group. See Rodman who was defensive but nobody claims he was a 2 way player.
I like Draymond but I think he’s what’s holding GSW back. They kinda refuse to trade him because of what he’s done winning titles and what not but he’s clearly past it now.
Without him Kuminga could be the 4 and Butler the 3, they’d have Heild/Podz/Moody at SG which provides better spacing. Then they could use his contract to go and get a true centre to complete this team. Horford/Post off the bench, GP2 as the back up PG and then maybe invest a little more on back up forwards.
It doesn’t even have to be a big name centre even a guy like Claxton/Mitchell Robinson/Steven Adams or something like that. Sure he brings good defence and is a good facilitator but his 9-5-6 stat lines don’t do enough for this team to be a real contender especially considering the fact he gets 25mil a year.
Lonzo Ball has those numbers, is also good at defence and is a facilitator but gets paid accordingly. Plus he’s far more athletic.
They needed to move off him a while back like they did Klay in a way which wouldn’t cause any drama but allow them to grow.
Not sure who you think they could get for him, but there’s no question that GSW needs a better 5 than Horford.
Horford was the missing piece before the season started. The guy that moved the needle back to title town. Forgot Chet and I Hart. Jokic and big Val. Sengun, Smith and Eason. Gobert and Naz. It’s Horford and Post who instilled fear into opposition fans and belief in the bay. Have you seen Aristotle about since you caught him out? Lols. What kind of person blocks posters only to take cheap shots at said posters under a different name.
Kerr lack of faith in Post cost teh warriors a game. He needs to play more minutes so they have a rim protector on the floor.
Arc Post is drop coverage guy. Can’t switch and guard smaller guys. What rim protection? These other bigs can shoot it. Protecting the rim on three point attempts isn’t exactly ideal. I agree Warriors need to play younger legs more in the regular season though.
I still maintain Vuch from Chicago was the move for the Warriors. Dude is the very definition of 20 and 10. Probably 15 and 10 on the Warriors. He’s always been more than solid. I was hoping Boston would sign him this off season. Way he’s playing, he’ll probably get more staying chicago.
Giddey has been proving all his doubters wrong – huge triple double (29 15 and 12) last night in the comeback win over the 76ers, and Vuc had 19/10.
The negative narrative against Vuc was everywhere – “horrible defender”, “outlier 3 pt shooting season” will be unsustainable, etc etc.
He’s have been a great fit on either the Warriors or the Celtics. It would be stupid for the Bulls to trade him when it looks like they’ll finally be a playoff team, but the Bulls are capable of stupidity, so it’s possible…
Post looked very good against the Suns. His switches were good. I saw him altering shots last night even Booker had to change and miss because Post was around the rim.
@Nrg82
Horford has been surprisingly bad compared to the lofty expectations, shooting 37.9 % overall and 29.4% from three (13% below his career FDG% and over 8% lower than his career 3 pt FG%) with Kerr having to pull him from games after getting blown by on defense.
And no, I haven’t seen” either one” of those commenters since, I wonder how many others are the same person…
Yeah like I said should’ve moved him a couple years ago it’ll be harder to make something happen now.
Claxton could potentially be available, he’s started off slow but been better recently.
Same salary just 3 year deal instead of Drays 2. Would cost you a first round pick.
Nets don’t really have a 4 and for a real young team lack solid vets, he could’ve that for them and it would allow DaRon Sharpe to start and I like him. Maybe even throw in Podz for Highmsith as a sweetener, Highsmith would’ve quality depth and you have the guards.
Not sure how to you match salaries but maybe Draymond for Mitchell Robinson. Robinson has potential for sure. Knicks might like Drays defence and leadership and experience, I think he’d pair nicely with Brunson and KAT.
Maybe a Mark Williams/Nick Richards from the Suns, they have a bunch of centres and lack 4’s, plus they apparently want to play a more physical tougher style.
Warriors are worse without Green. Way worse. Where do clowns come up with this garbage?