Draymond Green Is the “Charlie Hustle” of the NBA
In sports, hustle is a talent that cannot be taught or given. Hustle is a gift that comes from within. An athlete is born with it. Not everyone possesses this skill, and few are effective with it.
No one in sports will ever replicate the hustle that the great Pete Rose displayed while playing in the Major Leagues. Rose had the apt nickname “Charlie Hustle” bestowed upon him for his energy and all out performance. He always gave it his all, was highly competitive, and wasn’t afraid to back down.
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Generations later, sports saw a high energy level of play come from Dennis Rodman in the world of the NBA. Rodman was eccentric and had something of an — exotic — personality, but provided plenty of heart and passion in his play. Undersized for a power forward, Rodman played bigger than he was, made sure people knew what he was going to do, and dared them to stop him.
In 2012, the Golden State Warriors welcomed in modern day Rose and Rodman, by the name of Draymond Green.
Green is a Michigan native from Saginaw, where he spent all of his younger years playing sports. Before he landed in the NBA, Green played his youth ball, high school ball, and college ball all in the state of Michigan. Out of high school, Green was recruited by national powerhouse and legendary coach, Tom Izzo, to come play for the Michigan State Spartans. Over the course of four years, Green left his mark on Spartans history while developing into one of their leaders.
Green was a stocky post player, with small forward skills, and a motor that kept him going. With a 6’7″, 230 pound frame, as well as his versatility, Green has never naturally developed a permanent position while at MSU.
Draining three pointers, rebounding, defending the pass, and blocking shots, Green looked ready to take his skills and apply them to a career in the NBA.
Green’s versatility has created opportunities for him to play, but what makes Green really stand out is his intensity and competitiveness.
Green is not afraid to back down from a fight, but never lets his emotions get the best of him. He isn’t immature or petty, and he never lets his behavior become a detriment to the team. While at MSU, Green was a chippy defender that would get under the skin of his opponents. He routinely pushed them into overreacting. His style of play certainly gets opponents worked up.
After a terrific career at Michigan State, Green was a lock to be drafted into the NBA. The question though, was where he would end up being taken, and by whom.
Near the end of the 2nd round of the 2012 NBA Draft, the Warriors brought the Michigan State product in though Green’s size and shot selection was a concern for the NBA style of play. He looked more likely to be riding the bench or flirting with playing time in the NBA D-League than an integral part of the Warriors’ roster.
Mar 6, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) holds onto a rebound against the Dallas Mavericks in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
When he was brought into Golden State though, Green fit the mold of either a small or a power forward. Ahead of him on the depth chart though, the Warriors already had Klay Thompson and David Lee.
Thompson was already a star in the making after being drafted in 2011. Given the fact that Thompson had entrenched himself in the Warriors’ lineup, the odds of Green playing ahead him were incredibly slim. On the other side, Lee was already an All Star power forward, and that fact meant that Green didn’t stand a chance of playing ahead of him either.
Entering the league, Green looked like he was going to be buried on the Warriors’ bench, getting mere scraps for playing time. But what never changed was Green’s desire to get better and his competitiveness.
With the limited time he got on the floor in his first two seasons in the league, Green showed what he could do. In Green’s first season, Harrison Barnes — the highly acclaimed high school star and former North Carolina Tar Heel — was supposed to become the next star in the league. In the NBA though, Barnes never managed to translate the skills that made him a star in high school and college. As a result, Green was the next guy up, and he made the best of that opportunity.
The Warriors gave it their all in Green’s rookie season and found themselves in the playoffs for the first time under Mark Jackson. Lee was injured during the playoffs though, and Green stepped in and took his game to the next level. But Golden State saw their playoff journey end against the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs.
Because of extraneous circumstances, the performance of certain players, and several injuries, Green’s minutes doubled from his rookie season to his sophomore year in the league. Thanks to his playoff efforts the previous season, as well as his offseason work, Green ended up holding down the sixth man duties for Mark Jackson’s squad.
Last season, the Warriors were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, which led to Jackson’s firing as head coach. In the 2014 offseason, the Warriors were looking for an upgrade at head coach, and stole Steve Kerr from the TNT broadcast booth.
Coming to the Warriors with no previous coaching experience, Golden State did not know what to expect from Kerr. Nor were they expecting — or were prepared for — what would happen at the start of the 2014-2015 season.
Lee went down with a knee injury to start the season and has missed significant time. Green was penciled in to replace Lee, and there were no signs of stopping Green after that decision.
Coming out of the gate this season, Green put up All Star caliber numbers, and helped lead the Warriors — as well as complimenting — the Splash Brothers (Thompson and Stephen Curry) to the best record in the Western Conference.
The Splash Brothers are a dynamic duo, but lacked that third player to create a big three. Sure enough, Green has quietly become the piece they’ve been lacking. Despite being snubbed for an All Star appearance, Green means a lot to his team.
So far this season, Green is averaging 11.6 PPG, and is leading the Warriors with 8.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 BPG, and 1.6 SPG according to ESPN. Green is stuffing the stat sheet.
What actually can’t be measured or be quantitative though, is Green’s heart and intensity.
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Green’s motor on top of Andre Iguodala‘s defensive prowess provide the Warriors with one of the best defenses in the NBA. If hustle counted as a statistic, Green would easily qualify as an all-time great already.
It is easy for the Splash Brothers to grab all the attention — as Curry is in good position to win this season’s MVP, and Thompson is a star — but what can’t be forgotten is that they might not be where they are, without the help of Green. When Lee went down, Green stepped up to the plate and certainly hasn’t disappointed.
What the Warriors have to worry about is whether or not Green will be back next season. The Detroit Pistons have an opening and going home could be an option for Green, who would probably love to play closer to his family.
But Iguodala is aging, and with his versatility, Green can easily slide into that position which would allow Lee to return to his natural spot at power forward. Are the Warriors capable of rewarding Green with the pay he deserves, with an already limited budget?
The offseason will be tough as the Warriors have several other players to focus on as well. But the Warriors are going to have to bring out the money truck if they plan on bringing back the “Charlie Hustle” of the NBA.