Does Draymond Green Think He’s the Best Defensive Player of All-Time?

If you haven’t heard, Draymond Green was recently asked about his thoughts on being considered the best defender the game has ever seen on the Dubs Talk Podcast with Grant Liffman and Kenda Andrews. The 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year said, "I think I'm the best defender to ever play in the NBA. I stand by that. I'd put myself up against anyone."

"I think I'm the best defender to ever play this game," Green continued to say. "100%, 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. I think when you look at the things that make a great defender: reaction time, toughness, being able to see the picture long before it develops, and most importantly, in order to finish a defensive possession, you've got to rebound. And I think I rebound well. And so when I look at all the facets that make up the defensive side of the ball, I think I'm great in every facet. So I think I'm the best defender to ever play in the NBA. I'll stand by that. I'll put myself up against anyone."

Yes, you read that right and frankly, I agree with him. When this conversation comes up, your mind immediately thinks of dominant defensive big men like Hakeem Olawajuan, Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace, David Robinson, Dennis Rodman to name just a few. You also got guards/forwards like Chris Paul, Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, etc. who may be faster than Green but what makes an all-time defender special is his ability to guard 1-5. Draymond can do just that and do it to the highest level against any type of player.

Green is not afraid to play someone down low who may be a lot taller/stronger than him or even an elite scoring guard who may be quicker/faster than him. It doesn’t matter. Draymond loves to lock down guards with size and massive 7-footers.

Draymond has every tool in the defensive bag. He senses space and angles. He switches on and off the ball. He helps down then recovers to shooters. He defends on the perimeter AND in the post. Green is ferociously competitive every time, every second he’s on the floor.

It also has to do with Draymond’s high confidence that makes up part of who he is and how that confidence has helped him in his successes on the defensive end of the floor. It’s a certain gene you need to have to not only be an elite defender but one of the best to play that part of the game. Without it, you just fade off in the background.

So yes, I agree that Draymond Green is the best defender to ever play the game of basketball and what’s so crazy is that his career is far from done.

Arden Cravalho is a Sports Producer for 95.7 The Game and NBC Sports Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho.