Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green recently shed light on his early basketball influences and how they shaped his path in the NBA. He was known as one of the best defenders in the league. Green shared his experience on the “7PM in Brooklyn Podcast” with Carmelo Anthony. He revealed the players he initially aimed to emulate, including Paul Millsap and Chuck Hayes.
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Green admired Millsap’s ability to play effectively despite being undersized. Hayes, another undersized player, impressed Green with his defensive prowess. Witnessing these players succeed at a high level despite their size left an impression on Green early on.
Draymond Green is inspired by Legendary Defenders
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In addition to Millsap and Hayes, Green mentioned other defensive standouts he admired, including Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace. The legendary Rodman’s defensive dominance motivated Green to bring his all to that end of the court. Meanwhile, observing Ben Wallace’s defensive zeal had a lasting impact on Green during his growth years
Offensive Inspirations
While defense became Green’s calling card, he initially drew inspiration from players on the offensive end as well. In particular, he pointed to Carmelo Anthony and his array of offensive moves, including lethal fadeaway shots, as sparking his interest early on. Green aimed to emulate those types of offensive abilities before ultimately embracing his defensive role.
Forging His Own Identity
Green acknowledged that, while he was initially drawn to offensive players, the Warriors system emphasized his defensive strengths. As he put it, “In going to the Warriors, me trying to be a scorer would never work.” Instead, he embraced his defensive role, which became his trademark, ultimately becoming a key contributor to the Warriors’ four NBA championships.
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Overcoming “Tweener” Label
In the podcast, Draymond Green also discussed the challenges he faced entering the league. His ability to play both offense and defense led to him being labeled a “tweener,” meaning coaches struggled to find a suitable position for him. However, he overcame this label to excel on the defensive end.
From Scorer to Defensive Powerhouse
Furthermore, Draymond Green revealed that his high school focus was on scoring, with defense being a secondary concern. However, his NBA journey led him to excel in a different area, becoming a defensive stalwart. While he sacrificed some offensive aspects of his game, his defense became dominant.
No Regrets
Looking back on his career so far, Draymond Green has undoubtedly found great success with four championships and a Defensive Player of the Year award. At 33 years old, his legacy as a champion and defensive maestro is already well-established. Despite not becoming the scorer he initially envisioned, Green has no regrets about the path his career took.