Steve Kerr is no stranger to winning. With five NBA championships as a player with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, and four more as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, his perspective carries significant weight.
Recently, after the Warriors’ win against the Milwaukee Bucks, Kerr praised Draymond Green as the best defender he’s ever seen in the league. “He’s one of the great defenders of all time, and he’s still doing it at a high level,” Kerr said in the postgame press conference.
But after Golden State’s recent 117-114 victory over the Toronto Raptors, Kerr went further. He revealed his full list of the three greatest defenders in NBA history. “The top two are Scottie Pippen and Draymond,” Kerr stated confidently during the postgame presser.
“What I see with Draymond when he’s guarding the post is incredible, especially when you add his ability to guard the pick-and-roll all the way up to half court,” Kerr added. “Dennis Rodman is a great comp for Draymond in that regard, and I definitely should have him in the conversation too”.
“Probably those three. Dennis, Scottie, and Draymond,” Kerr concluded. “You can see the parallels—the length, physicality, speed, versatility—but ultimately, it’s the brain. Dennis and Scottie were two of the smartest defenders I’ve ever been around, and Draymond is amazing in that regard”.
Kerr highlights the differences between Green and Pippen
While Kerr acknowledged that Green stands apart from Pippen due to his physical strength and ability to guard low-post players, he also pointed out that the game was vastly different during the era when the Bulls legend was competing.
“What makes Draymond different than Scottie is that Dray is physically stronger and more capable of guarding low-post players,” Kerr explained. “I’ll give Scottie a break because back then, the low-post guys were Shaq, Patrick Ewing, and Hakeem. It was a very different game“.
Green’s defense returns to elite form
In recent years, Green’s defense hasn’t always been at the level that won him the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year award and earned him eight All-Defensive Team selections. However, his recent performances suggest a resurgence in his defensive prowess—just in time for the Warriors’ playoff push.
Against the Bucks, Green tallied 10 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks in 36 minutes while holding Giannis Antetokounmpo to just 20 points on 31.3% shooting. His standout performance was a reminder of his elite capabilities and a promising sign for Golden State as they gear up for the postseason.