New York Knicks icon Charles Oakley was spotted by TMZ Sports cameras and asked of his thoughts on Carmelo Anthony's future, and his opinion on the toughest smartest player in the league.
“I don't know, it ain't about toughness, it's about smarts,” Oakley said. “It's about making your teammates better and playing together on the court.”
When asked if Draymond Green was the toughest on the court, Oak was quick to redirect its trajectory.
“It ain't about being tough,” Oakley added. “I liked him from his time in Michigan State, he had one of the best coaches — (Tom) Izzo, he played point-forward and he's doing the same thing at a different level and he's showing guys in the NBA why he should've been a top-ten pick.”
Green has shown astronomical growth under head coach Steve Kerr, taking his game to an All-Star level — going from a versatile, yet unrefined reserve into a bona fide starter that is the revving engine of the Golden State Warriors.
While he is still polishing his many rough edges on the offensive end, the Saginaw native is once again in the running for Defensive Player of the Year for a third consecutive season.
An undersized power forward at a mere 6-foot-7, Green was forced to weld his physical talents with a cerebral approach, eventually developing not only into a tactical player, but an elite defender and of the very few that can defend all positions.
Oakley, who averaged short of a double-double for his career (9.7 points, 9.5 rebounds per game), took his shot-blocking deficiencies as a chance to become much stronger in other areas, becoming a rugged rebounder, a willing passer, and a reliable free-throw shooter — making the most of his natural abilities and basketball IQ.
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