Draymond Green has been a thorn in his opponents' eyes for a long while. He has become the standout defender because he can guard players on his position and switch onto any other player on the court. That kind of versatility and willingness to play elite defense is a tremendous quality in today's NBA.
Playing that brand of defense is rare, but he is not the first top-tier stopper. Numerous players before him had the same trait and ability, and Gary Payton , a legendary player in his own right, has talked about Draymond before, going as far as comparing him to Dennis Rodman .
"He takes on the challenge to guard everybody. He is not scared of nobody. I don't know if he can guard 94 feet, but when you get him in the half-court, he's a very difficult player to get around," Payton said about Green in 2016.
Draymond is one of the smartest defenders
While Draymond's size, foot speed, and length make him stand out physically, his basketball IQ is his best quality. He analyzes his opponents' tendencies to attack their weaknesses by overpowering or out-speeding them.
Another way Draymond defends is by frustrating his opponents into making stupid mistakes. He is one of the best trash-talkers the sport has ever seen, with how he approaches and instigates the opposing players. That is how good Draymond has been because he would still back up his talk on defense.
The combination of smarts and strength is a big part of how Draymond has remained successful over the years. Although his offense leaves much to be desired, you can never avoid the idea of his defense being elite. It is safe to say Draymond believes he is the best defensive player ever, even though some people would call Rodman the best.
"I think I'm the best defender to ever play this game," Green said on a podcast. "One hundred percent, that's my opinion. But I also think I view the game a lot differently than most people view the game. I think I just see it from a different perspective.
The comparison between Draymond and Dennis
Payton said both players are elite because they have been vital to their championships. They are both Defensive Player of the Year award winners, which further cements their ability to defend at the highest level.
Most people would point to their rebounds because Rodman is arguably the greatest rebounder in the sport. Defensive rebounds are also a thing, which means Dennis wants to secure the ball and help his team go on the attack.
On offense, Draymond is the better player due to his playmaking ability, which involves using his above-average dribbling skills to get into the paint and bully his way into scoring a layup. That was not the case for Dennis, who primarily relied on put-backs and alley-oops to score points.
GP makes an excellent point comparing these two players because they have marked differences in how they play the game, but their impact is similar. Their defensive responsibilities made them formidable, helping their teams win championships because they were always reliable on that end of the floor.
Related: "That's the way Rodman has been his whole career" - Shaq rejects criticism of Draymond Green, draws parallels to Dennis Rodman
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