Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green is regarded as one of the best defensive players in the league today. For all his expertise, Green hasn't forgotten his mentor, crediting his post defense know-how to former teammate Andrew Bogut — a defensive stalwart himself during his prime.
For Green, it was Bogut who taught him how to guard players on the post:
“Bogut showed me how to guard the post…I wouldn't be half the defender I am without Andrew Bogut. He taught me so much about defense I owe all my success to him”
Below is the full clip:
To recall, Bogut was part of the Warriors' championship run in 2015. In the same year, he was named into the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. During his stint with the Warriors, as well as with other teams, he has often been tagged as the teams' best defender — able to block and intimate shots in the paint.
Though his time with the Warriors was cut short, his influence obviously rubbed off Green. Green was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he was selected into the NBA All-Defensive First Team. This year, he was part of the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
For his part, Bogut also praised Green before. Back in his playing days with the Warriors, he called Green as the best all-around player in the league, per Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated:
“Draymond is huge for us,” Warriors center Andrew Bogut said after the game. “His playmaking ability, his defensive ability. He's probably the best all-around player in the league at this point.”
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