Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has a ton of respect for Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, and that's because he believes their paths to stardom are similar and both of them worked hard to be where they are now.

In an interview with ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Green said he admires Lowry for all the effort and hard work he has put into his game throughout his 13-year career:

“He wasn’t always an All-Star. He wasn’t always a starter. But he got it out of the mud and he’s where he’s at today. He’s faced a lot of doubt. He’s been criticized a ton, this year and previous years before, but yet he’s still standing and he’s here in this moment, and it’s well-deserved.”

Lowry was selected 24th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft, and a lot of people thought he was only good enough to be a backup point guard. However, he elevated his game to the next level, and he started to rack up All-Star recognition after he was traded to Toronto.

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However, his success has come with a lot of pressure. Lowry helped the Raptors become one of the best teams in the East over the past couple of years, but some playoff struggles brought criticism.

This season, though, Lowry has redeemed himself in these playoffs, especially thanks to an amazing performance in the Eastern Conference Finals series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Now, after several years of trying, Lowry is in the NBA Finals.

Green recognizes a real star when he sees one.