Since being drafted by the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green has become one of the most controversial players in the league today.
It’s impossible to talk about the Golden State Warriors without mentioning Draymond Green. In many ways, Green has become the king of controversy. Every time his name is mentioned there is a discussion to be had. This is largely due to his highly expressive personality.
Green is talented and he isn’t afraid to let you know. It may rub some fans the wrong way when Green makes a defensive play and immediately begins to taunt the crowd. Or maybe even when he celebrates a meaningless bucket after the Warriors are already winning by 30 points.
It’s easy for fans to be annoyed by Draymond and his constant antics. The fact that his impact on the game is something that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet is another reason for critics to hate on him. Why is this guy who averages 9.3 points for his career talking the most trash?
Well, believe it or not, Green is actually one of the best players in the league. His averages of 11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists per game might not jump off the screen to you. However, his consistent production in each aspect of the game is what makes him great.
Let’s put some of Green’s statistics into a different perspective. In the history of the NBA, there have only been 18 instances in which a forward/center averaged 7+ assists per game for a full season. This list is made up of LeBron James (9 seasons), Larry Bird (3 seasons), John Havlicek (2 seasons), Grant Hill (1 season) and Draymond Green (3 seasons.)
Furthermore, Green is one of only 15 players in NBA history to average 7+ assists and 7+ rebounds in the same season. Green separates himself even further by being only the second player to ever accomplish all of this while also averaging 1+ steals and 1+ blocks per game.
When looking at these statistics, it’s clear that Green has a special skill set. His ability to have an all-around impact on the game is something we have rarely seen before. So, the next time someone says “Draymond Green is a system player”, show them this. He isn’t the product of a system, he is the system.