The Golden State Warriors prepare for Wednesday’s elimination play-in game against the Los Angeles Clippers, but ahead of that matchup, Draymond Green took time to weigh in on a different conversation entirely. One that speaks to his legacy and where the next generation of defenders fits into it.
Green has been one of the most impactful defenders in the league for over a decade. A Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017. A third-place finish in voting last season. An ability to guard all five positions that has defined Golden State’s identity on that end of the floor for years.
On Tuesday, appearing on ESPN’s NBA Today, he identified the one player he believes has surpassed him.
What Green Said About Wembanyama
GettyDraymond Green of Golden State Warriors stares down Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Green was characteristically direct when the subject of Victor Wembanyama came up.
“To sit here today and tell you that my defense is more impactful than Victor Wembanyama’s, I think that would be a lie,” Green said. “I’ve never been one to not be honest. I wouldn’t put myself above him, but I wouldn’t put myself below anyone else.”
He went on to explain the distinction between his own defensive approach and what makes Wembanyama uniquely difficult to account for.
“I’m a positional defender,” Green said. “I’m not giving you your spots that you want to get to. I like to deter shots. I’m not Victor Wembanyama’s height, so I’m not going to block every shot. I think that type of anticipation is sometimes tough to quantify.”
He saved his most telling observation for last, describing what Wembanyama does to opposing offenses just by existing on the floor.
“When you look at Victor Wembanyama, he is one who does the same thing but in a different way,” Green said. “You see a lot of times, guys see him in the area and they just dribble the ball out.”
Why the Comparison Matters
Green’s admission carries weight precisely because of who it is coming from. This is not a role player deferring to a superstar. This is one of the greatest defensive players of his generation voluntarily placing a third-year player above him in the conversation.
Wembanyama averaged 3.1 blocks per game this season, a league-leading figure with no other player averaging more than two. The San Antonio Spurs posted a defensive rating of 103.6 with him on the floor compared to 113.7 with him on the bench. For context, the Oklahoma City Thunder led the league with a 106.5 defensive rating this season. Wembanyama on the court is better than the best team in the league without him.
Green’s own numbers this season, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, do not capture what he provides defensively. They never have. His value comes from positioning, communication, and the ability to disrupt before a shot even gets off. That is the part that is hard to quantify, as he acknowledged himself.
Final Word for the Warriors
Green has never been shy about his place in the defensive hierarchy. The fact that he is willing to put Wembanyama above him without hesitation says everything about how special the Spurs star already is.
Wednesday’s play-in game is the immediate priority for Green and the Warriors. Beyond that, the broader conversation about where Wembanyama fits among the all-time great defenders is just getting started.
Green helped write that standard. He knows better than anyone what it takes to reach it.
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