LOS ANGELES - Draymond Green shows why he is such an integral part of the Golden State Warriors' vision to another championship.
Even at 35, Green continues to be one of the most effective defensive players in the league. Against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, one play - out of many throughout the night - showed just how valuable he is on that end of the floor.
With less than one minute remaining and Los Angeles down 119-113, Lakers star Luka Doncic blew by Jimmy Butler III and made his way into the paint. While boxing out Lakers forward Rui Hachimura with his left arm, Green brought his right arm down, expertly stripping the ball away from Doncic and grabbing the rebound, securing the eventual 123-116 win.
After the win, Green spoke exclusively to Mirror U.S. Sports on his defensive tenacity and willingness to play the less glamorous side of basketball with the intensity that he does every night. Specifically, he noted what goes into being an effective defensive player, especially for as long as he has.
"I think talent must meet effort but effort beats talent when talent doesn't work," the Warriors' defensive ace said after the game. "And so I try to use my skill and my mind on that side of the floor."
Green also added that having an effective defense is not just one individual action but rather a culmination of different plays. "And then also, defense is made up of a bunch of extra efforts," he continued. "The second and third effort on the defensive end is what wins the possession instead of the first effort.
"And so I try to make sure I keep that mindset, but also make sure our team has that mindset. Every team in the NBA is good at guarding the first action. After the first action, how good - that's what makes a great defense." With Steph Curry as the Warriors' offensive leader, Green understands his energy on the other end of the floor permeates throughout the team.
"As the leader on that side of the floor, I have to make sure that I'm making those second and third efforts to hold everyone else accountable and make those second and third efforts," he added. With Green being the anchor on defense, Golden State won four championships, and with each year the Warriors won, they also had one of the best defenses in the league for that particular season.
Despite being 35 years old, Green continues to be among the leaders in the Defensive Player of the Year race, keeping pace with names like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley. Although he's made numerous All-Defensive teams throughout his career, Green has only won the Defensive Player of the Year award once, in 2017.
Interestingly, Green would have won his first award in 2015, though Kawhi Leonard won instead. Of note, Leonard played 15 fewer games and had fewer first-place votes than Green, with most advanced statistics giving the Warriors star the edge.
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With Green on the precipice of winning the award for the second time in his career, he would be the oldest player in NBA history to notch that feat, beating out the late Dikembe Mutombo, who won it at 34 years old in 2001. As the Warriors star looks at making history, Green is only focused on one thing.
"It's great, but more importantly to me is winning. When you win, individual accolades come. So I just want to keep winning and let the chips fall where they may," he concluded.
