Golden State Warriors: Team USA will rely heavily on Draymond Green

An unglamorous contributor, Draymond Green has always been the Golden State Warriors‘ unsung hero. Now, he can have the same impact on Team USA, as they clammer for a leader to push them to the Gold in Tokyo.

Draymond Green might not be the biggest star on Team USA but they will need him to call on his championship experience with the Golden State Warriors.

It’s no secret that Green is leagues below the likes of Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum in terms of offensive capabilities. It’s far-fetched to think Green will ever lead this squad in scoring. However, his qualities as a floor general will be needed.

Anyone who watched the first few games for Team USA can see how lost they appear. For a team coached by the great Greg Popovich, this unit has no cohesive offense that generates easy points. This is in part to FIBA rules and officiating which has taken some players for a shock — but it’s also a from a lack of leadership.

Green can address this issue by being the loud voice he has been in Golden State for years. Calling out plays and holding his teammates accountable is something Green has never shied away from and he can’t afford to forget about it now.

Last season, Green averaged a career-high 8.9 assists per game. Compare this to his three exhibition games with Team USA, in which he’s dishing just 3.3 a night and it’s clear Green is playing below expectations in this department. With a full arsenal of offensive weapons at his disposal, I’d expect Green to bump this number up once they debut in Tokyo.

Most of all, Team USA will need Green to fill in for Kevin Love — who withdrew from the team after a disappointing showing. This has left them with a gap in the frontcourt rotation and an increased emphasis on Green being a consistent contributor.

The team won’t necessarily suffer from a lack of spacing with pure shooters like KD in the lineup — but it would bode well for the frontcourt if Green can find his stroke from deep once again. Unfortunately, Green has yet to even attempt a 3-pointer in his three outings. Nonetheless, Team USA and the Warriors would be happy to see him work towards expanding his range once more.

Again, Green won’t ever be the face of Team USA. But, if they want to win the Gold, he’ll need to be the same, fiery competitor he is in Golden State. Something tells me this will come naturally to Dray.