Over the past decade, the Golden State Warriors and their players have garnered much respect. Stephen Curry is commonly referred to as the greatest marksman of all time, Steve Kerr is one of the greatest winners of all time and the Warriors are one of the most dominant dynasties of all time.
But the warrior who has left the most intriguing legacy is none other than forward Draymond Green. Throughout his career, his emphatic playing style and influence outside of boxing scores have sparked much debate. However, what cannot be debated is the impact he had on the win.
Recently, the Warriors forward, in typically green fashion, went on a tirade during a training session with several members of the Toronto Raptors roster. More specifically, he called up rookie Gabe Brown, who is currently fighting for a roster spot on the team.
“Gabe, I just beat you in all those sprints. And it’s my first time on the court, up and down,” Green said. “You’re trying to form a team. How are you going to make it when Pascal Siakam is running away from you? What if Fred VanVleet runs away from you?”
Brown went to Michigan St., Green’s alma mater, so snapping him into the young star should mean something. He also gave the group a reality check on what it takes to make it to the NBA.
While most players dream of being a star in the NBA, most who do become nothing more than role-players. Excelling in a particular role takes focus, and Green let players know that taking on a smaller role might improve their chances overall.
“We can talk about IQ whatever we want. But at the end of the day, m************ had a role to play in the NBA. There’s two motherfuckers on a team who can do whatever they want. And 13 other motherfuckers, they’ve got a role to play… either you’re going to master your role or you’re going to pull the shit out,” Green said.
Only so many players will be the Curries, LeBron Jameses and Giannis Antetokounmpos of the world, but every team will always be looking for guys who play their roles perfectly. Green’s advice makes perfect sense, especially for players trying to get into their team’s main roster.
The Warriors forward has built a career built on that mentality, and during a recent edition of the Dubs-Talk Podcast he explained why all the little things matter, especially on defense.
During the episode of Dubs-TalkGreen stated that he was the best defenseman of all time. But as a reason, he said that when it comes to defense, he looks at the little things rather than the normal stats.
“I think if you look at the things that make a good defender: reaction time, tenacity, being able to see the picture well before it develops and most importantly, to end a defensive possession, you have to bounce back, and I think I’m recovering well,” Green said.
Warriors fans all understand Green’s value, and he is committed to helping others understand the importance of taking on the right role.
