Draymond Green has made a career for himself as one of the best defensive specialists in the NBA. The veteran forward has been a vital defensive presence for the Golden State Warriors throughout their title seasons.
Earlier, the four-time NBA champion had a bold take on how the lack of effort on defense has been directly linked to the value a player brings to the table.
Draymond Green Uses Cam Thomas as an Example of Players’ Diminishing Value for Lack of Defensive Efforts
Speaking on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, the seasoned Warriors star used the Milwaukee Bucks’ latest acquisition, Cam Thomas, as an example of players whose value dips due to a poor showing defensively. Thomas signed a $905,366 contract with the Bucks for the remainder of the season.
“Guys who score at an elite level but don’t quite compete on the defensive end, they’re just really losing value in this league of guys where everything is fast, trying to get downhill, everybody is playing off close outs,” Green said.
“Everybody is live. It’s made it tougher for those guys who don’t really focus/lock in on the defensive end but score the basketball; it’s made it tougher for teams to play them.”
Green’s comments come after there has been an increasing need for lockdown defense from every player taking the floor. While three-point shooting at a steady clip has been on the rise, the 4x NBA All-Star spoke of how just plain offense doesn’t translate to a player getting the full value he deserves.
On the season front, the Warriors have struggled with injuries to their mainstays. Jimmy Butler was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. Stephen Curry is ruled out with a knee injury and will miss the 2026 NBA All-Star weekend. At the time of writing, he will be evaluated after the break and will likely be day-to-day.
In their absence, the Warriors have taken a dent, struggling in eighth position in the West. While they have managed to keep their head above rough waters with a 29-26 record, they will look for Green to contribute on both ends of the floor.
Green has remained healthy for a large part of this season, lacing up for 46 games. He averages 8.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 41.7% from the field and 32.7% from the three-point line, cashing in with timely shots from beyond the arc.
Green and the Warriors return to action with a two-game homestand after the All-Star break. Only time will tell if Green’s defense can help the side record more wins.
