Draymond Green is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his era, with some even placing him among the greatest in NBA history. His defensive prowess has been instrumental in the Golden State Warriors’ championship success. However, as surprising as it may seem, defense wasn’t always his passion.
Early in his NBA career, Green had to adjust his mindset to earn playing time. The four-time NBA champion recently joined Monte Poole and Kerith Burke on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dubs Talk” podcast, where he reflected on how defense became his ticket to a starting role with the Warriors.
“When I came in [to the NBA], defense wasn’t my thing,” Green admitted. “I passed the ball. I shot the ball. I created on offense. That’s what I did. But that wasn’t my path to getting on the court. My path had to be through defense.” With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson emerging as the Warriors’ offensive cornerstones and David Lee holding down the starting power forward spot, Green quickly realized he had to find another way to make an impact.
“Steph Curry, Klay Thompson—two young guys emerging—[and] an offensive-minded power forward, an All-Star, who could score with the best of them in the post,” Green said. “Back then, you actually had to throw the ball into the post, play with two bigs. I was behind that guy, David Lee. I didn’t score better than him, so my path to playing time wasn’t going to be through scoring. How could I get on the floor?” Draymond said. “The only way was by getting stops defensively. So I immediately thought, ‘I have to lock in on defense. That’s going to be my way onto the court.’”
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors walk off the court.
Green’s evolution into an elite defender
That defensive focus paid off. In 2017, Green won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, solidifying his status as one of the league’s premier stoppers. Although it remains his only DPOY trophy, his reputation as a defensive anchor has only grown over the years.
see also
Warriors’ Stephen Curry receives another vote as the most influential player in history
Now, in the 2024-25 season, Green is once again making a case for another Defensive Player of the Year award, further strengthening his legacy. Ironically, his mindset about defense has completely shifted from when he first entered the league.
“Honestly, I absolutely love playing defense,” Green said. “I genuinely enjoy getting back on defense, watching the offense come down the court, and thinking: How am I going to stop this play right now?”
“Everyone wants to play offense, let’s face it. We all want to score, get the ball, and rack up assists—offense is fun. But defense? Defense isn’t so fun for certain people. I absolutely love it.”
