Draymond Green, the undersized second-round draft pick out of Saginaw, Michigan, was someone who people thought should only be appreciative of making it to the NBA. But over time, Green solidified his place in the league and created a Hall of Fame resume. Statistically, his numbers aren't the most impressive, but his impact on the floor during the Golden State Warriors' dynasty run was undeniable, and he's still helping them in a big way even if he's not at the peak of his powers.
There may have been many players with a similar skill set as Green who didn't get a fair shot to prove their worth because of question marks about their ability to make it in the NBA. Fortunately for Green, he was able to get that chance. Once the opportunity came, he ran with it and never looked back, revolutionizing the league in the process.
In Green's rookie season, he didn't play big minutes, appearing in 79 games. He averaged just 2.9 points on 32.7% shooting while tallying 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 13.4 minutes per game. It could have easily been Green's last time playing in the NBA by looking at his stat line, but in his second year, he started to show some of what he would later become.
Green's minutes jumped up to 21.9 per game off the bench. His points, field goal percentage, rebounds and assists all took a jump. It allowed him to show he could play the power forward position despite being undersized, all while showing off his playmaking.
It was not until his third year under new head coach Steve Kerr that Draymond Green really got his big break. David Lee's injury opened the door for Green to start, and he quickly became a key cornerstone of the Warriors during their first championship run. Kerr saw even more in Green even after that first title.
In his fourth season, Green was the official point forward on the team. He orchestrated the Warriors' offense and flourished in his new role, earning his first All-Star appearance. He averaged 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in 2015-16 as the Dubs won 73 games in the regular season.
Draymond Green making the All-Star team set a new standard for what was considered a great player. While many have argued against Green's greatness because he has played with so many other high-level talents and doesn't put up gaudy stats like some other stars, his ability to make such a unique impact on both ends of the court at his size helped usher in a new wave of player. Now you have players like Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo and Houston Rockets youngster Jae'Sean Tate following in Green's footsteps.
As much as his teammate Stephen Curry changed the game of basketball forever, Green did his part in contributing to the rise of positionless basketball. He's not a prototypical big man and isn't a guard, but he does a little bit of everything. He guards all five positions possibly better than any other player in NBA history. The way he anchored the Warriors' Death Lineup as the center helped make them unstoppable.
Draymond Green is a unique player and maybe not even the first of his kind. He's the one who got a chance and made every moment count. At age 31, he's still at it and motivating others to become the next Draymond Green.
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