Golden State Warriors superstar Draymond Green has some high praises for Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart ahead of their NBA Finals showdown starting Thursday.

Green and Smart have been often compared, thanks to their vocal attitude, focus on defense, and just that tenacity and grit. Even Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that the two have a lot of similarities on how they conduct themselves on the court and play.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Green opened up about Smart and highlighted one underrated aspect in the game of the Celtics vet: his leadership.

“I think he really thinks the game. You can see it, just the way he plays, the way he's teaching guys, the way he's commanding attention in huddles and going through the X's and O's. You see it all. I think he does a great job at that,” Green said.

“I think people tend to forget, Marcus Smart's number one attribute or positive on him coming out of the draft was his leadership, and that he's a winner and a true point guard. And the qualities that he has, especially on that side of the ball, are those of a leader. When you see him with the X's and the O's and teaching, [those qualities] are those of a point guard.”

Draymond Green also noted that the bad reputation Marcus Smart has gotten because of his leadership style and the way he plays is just a result of people not knowing how to handle it. In the eyes of the Warriors forward, though, the Celtics guard has grown to become a better leader and “it's been really good to watch” for him.

True enough, Smart has become a key cog for the Celtics. Just like how Green is for the Warriors, the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year is the heart and soul of this Boston team. He might not be putting up big numbers every game, but he keeps the team together and is often the spark that gets them going.

Certainly, the Warriors will be wary of Smart and what he brings to the table when the NBA Finals begin on Thursday.