Golden State Warriors forward and former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green does not mince words when it comes to his defensive impact.
Green once again lamented the apparent allegiance media members have to thinks like statistical numbers and advanced analytics during an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic. The outspoken Warriors star said his box score might not reflect his defensive impact, but he guaranteed opponents are keenly aware of where he is on that end of the floor:
“I mean, I always think I should be there and in the conversation because of what I do on the defensive side of the ball,” Green said, via Amick. “One thing I am certain of is that I can fuck up an entire team’s offense. And so, when you look at the impact that I have on the defensive side of the ball, it’s not always going to show up in blocked shots. It’s not always going to show up in steals. But I guarantee you it shows up in your favorite-player-who-I-may-be-playing-against’s mind.”
Green continued by saying there has become an increasing amount of emphasis on guys who rack of steals and blocks and less focus on how players actually disrupt opposing offensive systems. He told Amick he is of the belief someone could win DPOY without averaging a full block or steal per game.
The Warriors' emotional leader also lobbied for teammate Stephen Curry as league MVP, citing the team's year-over-year turnover with a healthy Curry in the rotation.
At the end of the day, Green likely understands there isn't much he can do to change media narratives. But he appears to wish there was more of an appreciation for the small details and nuances especially on the defensive end of the floor.
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