How Draymond Green’s personality has taken over the 2018 NBA Finals
By Ian Olsen
Love him or hate him, Draymond Green’s work ethic took him from being a doubted, late draft pick to a catalyst in transforming the NBA.
After his mid-air collision with Lebron James and mocking of Kendrick Perkins during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, Draymond Green both increased his number of haters and made his current naysayers resent him even more.
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Green’s trash talk, intensity and aggressive play have given him a negative reputation among some circles, but his strong personality is not undesirable for the NBA. And it’s clearly positive for the NBA-champion Warriors (if it doesn’t keep him off the floor as it did for game five of the 2016 NBA Finals).
Though the NBA may not endorse Green’s ferociousness, the league should not suppress it. Green did not deliberately poke James in Game 1, and by issuing a technical foul, the referees sent a signal discouraging intensity. Instead, referees should withdraw themselves as much as possible, allowing the players to settle games on the court. Considering the awe-inspiring basketball exhibited in Game 1, referees should realize that their job is a necessary evil.
In addition to his work ethic, another factor enabling Green to excel is his basketball IQ. His court vision and awareness enable him to average seven-plus assists. He anticipates ball destination to secure rebounds, and out-times post players to block shots of taller opponents.
Before the 2012 NBA Draft, Izzo said that Green wasn’t the team’s best defender but by far the team’s best cerebral defender, understanding positions and directing teammates more effectively than any player he’d had.
Green told Sports Illustrated he learns by watching the WNBA, describing the women relying on fundamentals rather than sheer athleticism. His keen memory and motivation led him to memorize the names of the 34 players chosen ahead of him in 2012.
Over his Spartan and Warrior careers, he’s showed resolve to improve and adapt. Converting strengths to weaknesses each of his four seasons at Michigan State, he progressed from being a traditional big man to a versatile, polished forward with outside shooting ability. Acclimating to the NBA, he lost 20 pounds and became a facilitator finding shooters off screens.
At Michigan State, Izzo ceded that Green talked more trash than his liking, but that that’s just him.
There’s no use trying to contain Green. He’ll keep talking trash and waging war against easy buckets. Few players resemble Green, but player individuality makes the game fun.
Call technical fouls when needed. Feel free to hate him. But at least recognize that Green has exemplified a style of play hardly, if ever, seen before and has been a catalyst in refashioning the NBA to position-less basketball.
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As the second-rounder continues to be the heartbeat of a world-champion team, realize that expectations amount to empty chatter. And while some get by on talent alone, players can overachieve through hard work, basketball IQ, toughness, unselfishness and commitment to winning.