Over the last few years, controversial discussions have consistently surrounded Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green and his standing among the greatest defenders to play in the NBA. Green has been on record multiple times, saying he is the GOAT of all defenders.
The two-time gold medalist has received tons of backlash for his claim as top dog, and it doesn't change Green's stance one bit. The truth of the matter is he has a stronger case than some want to believe.
However, when it comes to power forwards, he is the best defender ever to play the position. Only four power forwards in NBA history have won the prestigious NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Draymond Green, and most recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Rodman is the only player out of the four to win the award more than once. He took home the award twice in back-to-back seasons 1990 and 91, and he made the all-defensive team eight times. Stats didn't do The Worm justice as he never had a season where he averaged over one steal or block per game. Regardless of what the stats say, it was just tough to score on him. In the 90s, the entire league knew he could make it tough for anybody, which is the reason he's second to Draymond Green on this list.
Then there's KG, the most decorated out of the four. He's been selected for an all-defensive team a jaw-dropping 12 times in his 21-year career. He also played in an era where power forwards were some of the best players in the NBA, Tim Duncan, Chris Webber, Rasheed Wallace, and more. You could make the case that he had to defend the best players at their position. During Rodman's era, centers dominated the league, and Draymond Green plays in the generation of small ball, so power forwards are the new version of a center. On this list, The Big Ticket lands at third best.
Then there's The Greek Freak, who is currently fourth-best. He's the only player to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Although he might end up the best overall player out of the four, it's times he doesn't accept the challenge of guarding the best player on the opposing team. In the playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets this past season, some questioned him for not guarding Durant even though they often play the same position. Draymond Green, Rodman, and Garnett wouldn't allow a teammate to defend the best player, especially if that player is in the same position. It's why the two-time MVP is fourth on this list.
Saving the best for last, it's Draymond Green. He's won the Defensive Player of the Year award once and has been selected to six all-defensive teams. An argument can be made he should have more than that.
At a similar size as Rodman, Green is undersized for the position. Somehow he's still managed to average 1.4 steals and 1 block per game. Even though stats doesn't mean you are a great defender, it is a part of it. Green is also someone who can flat-out lock you down, just like Rodman. It's a very close call, but because they have similar abilities, I give Draymond Green the slight edge because he can alter shots and create turnovers better than Rodman.
As I mentioned earlier about Garnett guarding, perhaps the best power forwards ever to play the game. Green has defended some of them, too. It was after their prime, but he is more than capable of holding his own with those guys. Draymond Green plays in a time when he regularly has to guard point guards and centers all game. Garnett would be able to hold his own, but today's smaller athletes probably would rather go one on one with KG than Green.
Antetokounpo has an entire career ahead of him. He's made great strides to jump in the conversation early in his career. He could end up being the best defender, but he is so young and still developing, which is crazy to think. He doesn't carry the same defensive IQ as the others, and for now, that is the most significant separation between him and the other four.
Now it's still debatable who is the best defender of all time, but when it comes to the power forward position, unquestionably, Draymond Green is the best the NBA has ever seen.
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