Draymond Green is still an elite defender, but he pays a price for it.
The credit for the Golden State Warriors‘ four NBA Championships in the modern era is usually given to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant (for two titles). However, the dynasty’s dominance would never have been possible without Draymond Green’s contributions.
Green’s numbers are rarely highlighted on the box score, but the veteran forward is unarguably an elite defender. For years, he has been the Warriors’ defensive anchor. Even though Green is now 34 years old, he is still fulfilling his defensive duties for the Dubs.
Williamson’s career may have been plagued with injuries, but he is without a doubt a force of nature. The New Orleans Pelicans star is one of the strongest players in the NBA. Despite that, Green defended him in back-to-back games.
Green shared his experience of going head-to-head against Zion and the aftermath of it on his aging body.
“He ain’t just strong, he’s powerful,” Green said, via Volume Sports on X. “Taking him on two days in a row – my back hurt, my hips hurt, I’m banged all up. I’m hurt, brother.”
Williamson scored 31 points in his first matchup of the season against Green and the Warriors. However, during the second game, Green figured out the method to stop the former No. 1 overall pick. As a result, Green held Williamson to just 12 points on a terrible 5-of-20 shooting performance.
Thanks to Green, the Warriors managed to win both games even with Stephen Curry sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Losing Curry to an ankle injury early in the season was a huge blow to the Warriors. Many predicted the Dubs to struggle to win games until their superstar returns to the roster. However, the organization has proved its doubters wrong.
Since Curry’s injury, the Warriors are on a three-game winning streak with the likes of Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Buddy Hield stepping up to fill the 4x NBA champion’s shoes.
As of now, the Warriors hold a solid 5-1 record to start the season. They are currently the third seed in the Western Conference, only behind the Phoenix Suns (5-1) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (6-0).
Related Posts
