Draymond Green has been a monster on the defensive end in the playoffs thus far, picking up right where he left off during a regular season where he probably did enough to earn his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Though Green’s defense receives most of the publicity, and deservedly so, Green is also one of the Warriors’ best play makers, averaging seven assists per game in 2016-17.
ESPN basketball expert Amin Elhassan joined Gary and Larry on Thursday afternoon and said that he believes Green is not just one of the best defenders in the league, but a top 10 player overall. He also said he’d rather have Green over DeMarcus Cousins, considered by many to be the best center in the league.
“I get in arguments with people all the time,” Elhassan said. “I say Draymond Green is a top 10 player in the league, they’re like ‘what?!’ And I say ‘start naming guys.’ I’ll give you an example: DeMarcus Cousins. I’d rather have Draymond Green than DeMarcus Cousins. I don’t even think it’s a question, because the one thing Draymond doesn’t do is score in volume and even then it’s not like he’s Luc Richard Mbah a Moute out there. He can shoot, he can pass, he can finish in transition, he can take advantage of a mismatch.”
Elhassan was also asked if he thinks Draymond is a “dirty” player. He said yes, but doesn’t believe that is necessarily a bad thing, as many of the best winners in NBA history were the same way.
“I mean you can be both. John Stockton was dirty, Karl Malone was dirty as hell. You can be a great player and be dirty. I think he toes the line. I don’t think he’s afraid to toe the line. He’s not afraid to do whatever it takes, but at the same time he’s an incredible talent.”
Listen to the full interview below.