Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green sent out a series of tweets reacting to the recently concluded match between the world’s No. 1 tennis player Naomi Osaka and 15-year-old prodigy Coco Gauff.
Green credited how the legendary Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, have impacted the sport of tennis. To end his spiel, the Golden State Warriors forward expressed his excitement about the future:
It’s amazing what Venus and Serena has done TO the sport of Tennis…. That’s an entirely different level of greatness!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) September 1, 2019
Coco was actually given some perspective today. I’m pretty sure since she was maybe 6 at the oldest she’s been wanting to be Serena or Venus…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) September 1, 2019
Moving forward she will realize she has to get through Naomi if she ever wants to challenge Serena or Venus. Meanwhile Naomi is also chasing them daily! Which means she’s also improving daily.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) September 1, 2019
It’s an interesting thing… I’m looking forward to watching the rest of Serena and Venus greatness, while watching them two chase THEIR greatness!!!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) September 1, 2019
Osaka quickly dispatched Gauff on Saturday night, ending her Cinderella run. Osaka is obviously on top of the world right now, but in Green's eyes, she is still a long way from reaching the standard both Serena and Venus have set.
Draymond Green certainly knows a thing or two about working hard to chase greatness and eventually achieving it. The Golden State dynasty wasn't built in one night. They had to start from the bottom and construct much of their infrastructure through the draft.
Likewise, Green didn't enter the league as a highly touted prospect. In fact, he was just a second-round pick who played sparingly in his rookie season. The all-around forward had to work his way to get to where he is right now. When an injury to then-starting power forward David Lee happened prior to the start of the 2014-15 season, Green seized the opportunity and never let it go.
Now, Green has established himself as one of the best defensive and playmaking forwards in the NBA today, with three NBA championships and a Defensive Player of the Year award to boot.
Certainly, much like Naomi and Coco are looking up to Serena and Venus, some up-and-coming forward in the league is also looking to pattern his game after Draymond Green as a do-it-all, Swiss Army knife on the basketball court.