Draymond Green Fantasy News and Statistics

In a league dominated by lottery picks, Draymond Green has proven that where you were drafted is just a label and has no bearing on what type of player you will become. Green is the perfect example of a player maximizing all of his abilities through hard work and practice. He is the fulcrum in the Golden State Warriors machine, and his two-way play has been essential to two NBA championships.

Green was born in Saginaw, MI, which had previously produced many NBA players including Kenyon Martin and Jason Richardson. But Green wasn’t on the NBA’s radar as an amateur, barely cracking the top 100 players in his high school class. He was an overweight and unathletic forward who was seen as an afterthought when he signed with Michigan State. But four years of playing under Tom Izzo did wonders for his work ethic and overall game. By the time Green left Michigan State, he was the school’s all-time leading rebounder and was one of three players in NCAA history to have two triple-doubles in the NCAA Tournament.

Just as he was in college, Green was an afterthought when he joined the NBA. He was the No. 35 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft as many talent evaluators were unsure of his fit and if his game would translate to the next level. As a rookie, he played out of position as a small forward and struggled against smaller, quicker defenders. He averaged just 2.9 points per game and had the third-lowest field goal percentage in the league.

Motivated to improve his game—and body—Green spent the following offseason riding a bike in a sauna to lose 20 pounds. He was also shifted to his natural position of power forward the following season and responded by increasing his numbers across the board.

In the 2014-15 season, Green was promoted to the starting lineup under new head coach Steve Kerr. He would be a point forward on the offensive end and a jack-of-all-trades on the defensive end. The media rewarded him for his play—almost—as he was the runner-up for both the Defensive Player of the Year award and the Most Improved Player award. Green and the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers for their first championship in 40 years.

After contemplating an offer from his hometown Detroit Pistons, Green re-signed with the Warriors for five years in the summer of 2015. He followed up that new deal with his best NBA season and his first All-Star appearance. Green had the second-most triple-doubles in the NBA as the Warriors blitzed the league to a record-breaking 73 wins. However, an untimely suspension of Green in the Finals played a part in the Warriors being defeated by the Cavs in the biggest Finals upset in NBA history.

Green played for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics and helped the United States win its third straight Olympic gold medal. Perhaps fatigued from the Olympics, Green’s numbers took a bit of a dip in the 2016-17 season, but his impact was all the same. After finishing as runner-up in the Defensive Player of the Year voting each of the past two seasons, he finally broke through and won the award. Green and the Warriors also got their revenge from the 2016 Finals as they defeated the Cavs in five games for their second title in three years.

Green may not be the best or even second-best player on the Warriors, but he may be the most important player for all the selfless work he does. Some of the things he does on the court are not quantifiable, but his teammates and coaches know his true value. His ability to affect the game in many different ways is one reason why the Warriors are favorites to take home the NBA championship in 2017-18.