Golden State Warriors: Kerr sees similarities in Green, Rodman’s impact

The Golden State Warriors, in some ways, are similar to the ’90s Bulls, and one such similarity is they both have a guy that gives them an “edge.”

With the NBA suspended due to the novel coronavirus sweeping the nation, basketball fans have been saved by “The Last Dance,” a documentary on the ’90s Bulls. Episodes 3 and 4 dropped this past Sunday, and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr again was a key part.

While the opening few episodes, of course, were headlined by Michael Jordan, they contained a storyline about Scottie Pippen. Well, this past week, fans were graced with an inside look at the life and character of Dennis Rodman, one of the most dominant defenders in NBA history.

Rodman was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time champion. It was his passion that led his legacy in the Windy City. That desire led to Rodman leading the league in per-game rebounding seven times and total offensive rebounding six.

Here’s how Kerr explained Rodman’s impact on the league.

“Dennis was a dominant defensive player. And what Dennis brought was exactly what we needed — somebody who gave us that edge on the front line,” Kerr noted.

That’s eerily similar to what NBC Sports’ Drew Shiller quoted Kerr saying about Draymond Green, a three-time All-Star, former DPOY, and three-time champion himself.

“He competes so hard and he generates so much energy and competitive desire. He brings this edge to the game. We would not have a single championship without Draymond. I know that. He’s such a huge factor for us in every series because of his versatility.”

Green, who has played under Kerr the coach’s entire tenure with the team, has blossomed into one of the better two-way players in the league. While he’s not the most skilled offensively, his vision and basketball IQ have led him to be the perfect fit in Golden State.

It’s the energy, passion, desire, and tenacity that both Rodman and Green played with. It’s what has made them an integral part of the two best teams in NBA history for their respective team. For Green, combine that with his offensive impact, and you have that “edge” Kerr talks about.

While Green’s numbers have slipped over the past few seasons, there’s no doubt that when his name is called upon he’ll be ready for the spotlight again.