Bay Area Sports: Ranking the Top 30 Players

Nov 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after committing a turnover against the Brooklyn Nets in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

#6 – Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

There are a lot of stats that quantify how good Warriors’ forward Draymond Green is. Early in the season, he’s averaging over 12 points, nearly eight rebounds, just under seven assists, over a steal and a block per game, and has the second-best plus-minus rating in the NBA over the past two years. He can even shoot the three ball as well, hitting at a 43.9 percent clip.

Green’s contributions to the Warriors goes way beyond the stat sheet. The hustle and energy he brings to the court on a nightly basis is unrivaled and infectious, and his motor is running non-stop. Over the past two years, Green averages just under 32 minutes, and he never stops working during a second of his time on the floor.

Green is undersized, being a 6’7″ power forward, but he doesn’t play like that. He can guard any player, from point guard to center, and do so with great effectiveness. After being picked by the Warriors 35th overall in the 2012 draft out of Michigan State, Green has worked so hard to perfect his craft. He’s become a vital piece, maybe the biggest key, to a Warriors’ team that won the NBA championship in 2015, and has gotten off to an historic start this year.

That old saying “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog” fits Green to a T. Another old cliché saying works as well for Green: “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”.

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