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Klay Thompson and Draymond Green make All-Defensive Second Team

By Jeffery Stephens

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 30: Klay Thompson #11 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after Thompson shot and make a three-point shot against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 30, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 30: Klay Thompson #11 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after Thompson shot and make a three-point shot against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 30, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The NBA All-Defensive teams were just announced and Klay Thompson and Draymond Green made this year’s second team.

This will be Klay Thompson’s first time making All-Defense and Draymond Green’s fifth. Both players have been essential pieces to what the Golden State Warriors do defensively for years.

Many people, myself included, feel like Klay has been snubbed from the All-Defensive team multiple times.

Klay takes on the toughest defensive matchup every night for the Warriors and does a good job at it. He has a defensive rating of 107.8 is the highest of his career. Klay’s 6-foot-7 frame, ability to move his feet and basketball I.Q. make him tough to not only shoot over, but he’s also tough to drive past in isolation situations.

This is the same Klay Thompson who was the primary defender on James Harden when he scored 17 points in a Western Conference Finals game in 2015. Even offensive superstars like Kyrie Irving have been confused by Klay not making any All Defensive teams until this season.

Draymond Green, on the other hand, is no stranger to the NBA’s All-Defensive team.

This is the former Defensive Player of the Year’s fifth selection in the past five years. Three of those selections were first-team All-Defense and the last two have been second-team selections. Draymond is widely respected as one of the most ferocious defenders in the NBA today.

His defensive rating of 104.3 is right behind the best defensive rating of his career of 104.4 which was last season. Without Draymond being able to compete defensively with big men the way he does the Warriors wouldn’t be able to play the way they do offensively.

The fact that he can compete with bigs defensively, grab a rebound and run the fast break makes his game extremely unique and important to the Warriors. Draymond actually thinks he’s the best defender ever and it’s getting to the point where his resume will do all the talking for him.

Both Klay and Draymond are both well deserving of their positions of the NBA’s All-Defensive second team this season. Both players take on immense tasks on that side of the ball and still contribute to a huge portion of the offense.

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Their contribution can’t be overstated and I expect both Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to have a few more selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive team before it’s all said and done,

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