Draymond Green earned a maximum contract extension back in 2023 worth $100 million over the next four years. Despite his overall impact on the Golden State Warriors, some people still say he does not deserve that kind of contract from his team.
The Golden State Warriors are the most successful team of the past decade, with four championships to their name. Only a few people were present for every part of that run. Among them is Draymond Green, the Warriors’ resident pesky defender.
Green has taken a lot of heat over the years, mostly because he loves to talk trash to his opponents. Fans have given him a lot of stick, but Green still has four championships to his name, and he was a vital cog in every run.
Despite his phenomenal impact, Green is not the flashiest player who gets the numbers. This has led some people to criticize him for not deserving such a deal because he is not producing at the same level as other players.
Danny Green feels Draymond Green deserves his contract
As a former player who faced the Warriors quite regularly, Danny Green knows Draymond Green’s impact.
The latter is one of the best defenders in the modern NBA, as he can legitimately guard every position at a high level, and he is a valuable locker room presence.
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Considering he is not the tallest player, the Warriors forward plays elite defense no matter who his matchup is.
Green’s defense of guards, forwards, and centers has been key to the Warriors’ success. Of course, Stephen Curry is the biggest reason behind the Warriors’ success, but Green deserves some of the praise as well.
Klay Thompson also deserves the credit, but he gets ample praise for his Splash Brothers duo with Curry. However, Green is always criticized for his lack of offensive impact beyond his screen-setting and playmaking. That has also led Danny Green to defend the Warriors forward and his contract.
“He’s not as good as Jalen Brunson; he’s not putting people on his back and driving a clutch offense on his own like him. Jalen Brunson is better than Draymond,” Wosny Lambre said on No Fouls Given with Danny Green and Paul Pierce about Draymond Green earning a max contract
“It’s rarer to find somebody who does what Jalen Brunson does on offense than defenders.
Danny Green disagreed, responding: “We’re talking about his defense being impactful, game-changing, and dominant. His defense is being compared to Jalen Brunson’s offense… Nine-time All-Defensive Team, so you can find one of those guys?
“There are bunch of defenders out there, and Draymond is the first to do it nine times.”
Green is cemented as an icon for the Golden State Warriors
Even if Green struggles to remain an impactful player moving forward, he has already done his job and cemented himself as one of the best in franchise history. The Warriors are grateful for his contributions to the team across all four championship runs.
Most people will remember Curry, Thompson, Kevin Durant, and head coach Steve Kerr. However, they will also not forget how Green was part of the championship core. He was a remarkable defender who stopped players of all kinds over the years.
In fact, he is more impactful than most people realize. Most teams would love a player with his intangibles on their roster. Some players are getting hyped up as the next Green, which shows that he has had an impact around the league.
At the same time, Green also has strong leadership qualities and an underrated playmaking ability. He has rightfully earned his place among the greatest Warriors ever. People might never agree with that, but his resume speaks for itself. He is a winning player, and the Warriors rewarded that impact with multiple contracts.