The Warriors 2nd most valuable player | Draymond Green 

To summarize the idea: Adding offensive players to Curry or Curry/Klay has diminishing returns, but Draymond's defensive value is (1) large and (2) incredibly hard to replace. Additionally, his unique skills allow Golden State to play these small-ball lineups *without* losing much on defense (teams usually sacrifice defense for offense when they go small) AND Green's playmaking optimizes offensive players who cut & shoot well. Also, classic typo: His scoring rate on the final slide should read 1st%.

The Warriors trio compliments each other so well and they easily mask each others weaknesses. Curry doesn't have to play defense because Klay and Draymond can do it. Klay doesn't have to handle the ball because Curry and Draymond can do it. Draymond doesn't have to score because Curry and Klay can do it.

What a unique player. He’s a star in his role. Great engine, high IQ, and reliable in so many ways. Other players struggling to find a role within their team should take note. Basketball is so much more than just numbers...heart and love of the game can’t be measured.

Green showed his growth and the best of his game in the Portland series. Green’s pushing of the the ball every possession and defensive rotations are unparalleled.

This is amazing what a balanced view of the most underrated “overrated” player of our generation

Kobe said himself when doing his detail video of draymond that he thinks one of the most important pieces is a playmaking 4 (like lamar odom), a power forward who can push the ball down the floor to create easy scoring opportunities b/c most big men can't deal with that speed.

Steph is the system, Dray is the heart, KD is the emergency brakes, and Klay is THE option/most combustible player on the team.

This just shows how little people understand basketball and how important Defence is. Great video as usual.

watching this video really made me rethink how impactful draymond is, I've seen plenty of analysis videos that explain how good he is without scoring but I feel like this video really explains it clearly

I love your videos man. Great insight, and always go into super depth. Fantastic video

He was voted as "the most overrated player" by NBA players this year. This year's Playoffs especially when Durant was out showed how valuable he is and he's a true all-star.

It's unfortunate you'll have people overlook Draymond's playing ability. There isn't any other player currently that does what he does within his position. He runs point and guards positions 1 thru 5 at a high level. If you really appreciate and love the game of basketball, than Draymond should be a player that should be given more attention and noteriety.

Without Draymond, the warriors wouldn’t be what they are. People need to put some respect on his name😤

Kd is a beast, but the soul of warriors is in the splash brothers and dreymond (dont forget about the genius coach, steve kerr)

The way you describe him at the end reminds me a lot of Scottie Pippen. They are two of my favorite players and I think they bring a lot of the same value, obviously I'm not saying their games are the same and Scottie was a much more talented scorer but they both bring immense value to all-time great teams. I don't know if any other two players had the same amount of impact on a winning culture while being so underappreciated. "Sidekick" is usually used as a diss by talking heads but to me it's a guy who fills in every gap that a superstar team is missing, making them essentially unbeatable if they have no weaknesses.

This video aged like wine

The highest quality AND the most consistent quality. Best BBall channel by a mile.

He was their 2nd most valuable player before Durant arrived. Finished 7th in MVP voting back in 2016.

Draymond has proved that he is one of the most unique players in the NBA this postseason

This Warriors line-up is just meant to be, they compensates each others weaknesses and will only excel when they play together. Some next level chemistry and player movement here; built to dominate the league. But haters will never appreciate or acknowledge this.

Thank you for calling it down the line and ACCURATELY.

I can watch Dray play defence all day long, his D is sometimes more enjoyable than other player's Offense

You are, without a doubt, my favorite basketball channel. Content is always well-thought out, sleek, and to the point.

People should appreciate these kind of players like yo, without these kind of players, the team would kinda suck. You can rely to them they bring help with no hesitations, no selfishness they think about how the game should be played. This is why I like warriors, they love teamwork so much.

This is real sports reporting. ESPN y'all should pay attention. This is insightful. Not just people yelling at each other. Great work bro I'm definitely subbed.

This is literally the best basketball "analysing" channel on youtube! Love your videos and cant wait for more!

good to see his immense contribution being appreciated and translated into numbers & graphs

Such an amazing video. Thank you , really . You make me appreciate the art of basketball more.

that backwards-jumping block attempt is the stuff of legend. that's some of the best shot defense i've ever seen -- remarkably low chance of fouling while maintaining the exact same pressure as if you'd just bumped him, plus it has the added benefit of possibly throwing the shooter off; he expects contact and anticipates adjusting for it, but never gets the contact and lets the the shot go off wrong

A BIG thank you for this video specifically, perfectly illustrates why he is my favourite player.

This is my fav video of yours yet. Thank you!

The fact that you managed to provide a clear and at the same time detailed explanation of tactical and strategic aspects of basketball to me, a complete nitwit when it comes to basketball (I am barely able to dribble a ball), is proof that you know what you are talking about. In fact, in the odd occasion that I watch basketball, I started to notice defensive mistakes and comprehend what attacking teams are trying to do on the court. A big thank you for making me less of on an embarrassment to my country.

Easily the best channel on youtube. Keep up the good work brother

Extremely accurate and astute observation on how Draymond is able to effectively protect the rim.

Best basketball content on RU-vid and it’s NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Draymond's is the only jersey I own and I've always worn it proudly. Everyone shits on his stats during the regular season, and his game is far from flashy. But he's a balls-to-the-wall player with a brilliant mind. Such intense players will always have intense personalities (Rodman was my favorite as a kid). But these are the role models that all fans can relate to -- they prove you don't need a natural-born talent, you can get there if you bust your ass day after day.

This video is like poetry for basketball enthusiasts that understand the game! Thank you sir!

The best to ever do it. period. Amazing insight and content.

I'm so happy that we're in an era where pass-first big men are exploited as well as they are. Easily one of my favorite ways of bending defenses.

Draymond is an incredible player. He gets overshadowed by the other 3. But without Draymond, there's no way the Warriors go to the finals 5 straight years. And that's even with Durant. Love your content brother. Keep putting out this incredible insight!

True love for basketball is measured in how deeply one loves and appreciates Draymond's game. Absolutely beautiful to watch.

Insane to see how much he improved his already incredible defense, and is so curious to see him overhelping after the video on the Warriors 21/22 Defense.

Been that way since the Warriors started their dynasty. He's always been the glue and they fall apart when he's off the court

love your videos man, keep it going.

Good job Ben. Love to see good use of statistics. Keep up the good work.

Bro you easily make the best basketball videos ever. Undoubtedly. And it's not really close either. I would personally be intrigued by a video like this but analyzing Klay Thompson. Keep up the incredible work.

Draymond probably has this video *saved*

Not only is Green a great one-on-one defender, GSW switching defense allows him to either defend the best opposing offensive player or sag off a weaker opposing player to clog the paint or double-team. There are plays on defense where he is the on-ball defender no matter who it gets passed to. It's like being defended by a team with 5 Draymond Greens.

Such an underrated channel. How do you not have millions of subscribers?

You should make more videos about these defensive and passing artist. They dont get enough spotlight its good to see someone talks about these guys

Always insightful

Damn, this channel puts out great stuff

Legit the best basketball analyst on RU-vid no other way around it, what kind of guest do you have on ur podcast.

Extraordinary analysis. Masterful use of figurative language👏👏👏.

Great analysis; great reporting. Agree 1000%.

So awesome. Yet another masterpiece!!

i was just watching this but @ 3:43 look at the distance green covers.. holy shit!!! kemba is lightning quick and green recovery is insane.

Love this video! Green is an unconventional superstar. A champion and a winner in its truest form!

Beautiful work, absolutely wonderful breakdown. Only thing I will have to say is he actually has a 7'3 wingspan, he was extremely overweight when he came into the league and it restricted him from fully extending his arms when he was being measured. GS announcers cleared it up recently during a regular season game. Secondly it would of been great if you highlighted how quickly he explodes to his max vertical, he's possibly the fastest leaper in the leauge and it's one of the main reason why his timing on blocking jump shooter's is bar far the best in the leauge.

So happy w/ Draymond's playoff efforts. Seems like he's always the first to possess the ball after opening tipoff... sets a pace.

1:04 Damn!!!! He truly reminds Magic a lot from this clips (side note: from your video on him at least, since i know almost nothing besides that).

Steph: ultimate offense Dray: ultimate defense Klay: ultimate hybrid

Smooth narration brotha

There is a lot that's happening on the court that isn't picked up by stats. Like hockey assists, for example. Green is a master at those. What I most admire about Green is how quickly he reads the floor and makes decisions. It's not the only thing I admire about him, though. His energy level, particularly in the playoffs, is off the charts. He's as committed as any player I have ever seen. He also leads the team, reminding teammates where they are supposed to be and calling plays. He's not a great shooter, but if you don't stop him from exploiting a lane, he *will* exploit it. He requires coverage any time he's inside the arc. He's great at slipping screens and using the slip to expose the defense. And he's a master at defense. I also admire him for *not* chasing stats. Green understands, maybe better than anyone, that this is a *team* sport, not an individual one. He doesn't need flashy stats. He needs wins, and he goes for the jugular to get them. His actions on the court often end up padding a *teammate's* stats. And finally, he's an excellent mentor. We all have noticed how Kevon Looney has been steadily improving his defensive and offensive game. Lots of people have had a hand in that, especially Kevon himself; but learning from Green surely has been a factor. There aren't many teachers who would be better. We should not be fooled by overreliance on stats This is one of the most valuable players in the league. All of that said, I'm frankly uncomfortable with any discussion which seeks to decide which player is more important. KD doesn't play alone, and neither does Draymond. Success isn't the product of any one individual. It's a collective effort. Rather than place these two players on opposite sides of a scale, put them on the same side and weigh them, and their teammates and coaches, against another team. The way we do that is to let them compete and decide the question on the court. We're about to see how Golden State compares to the Toronto Raptors. Each team is built differently; each creates synergies in its own way. It should be a great show for anyone who loves this sport.

lets not forget some of the intangible qualities of draymond, that heart shows.

This is so good, I think I got emotional about it..

dray is just so fun to watch. i love watching him throw the lob to the open man under the basket after he sucks in the help during a drive and after 2 guys are on steph. i know exactly whats about to happen but teams cant stop it. its brilliant

This shows in part why the Warriors were not Just a jump shooting team. Iguodala was another underrated piece in that Team.

Been saying this for 5years, and they called me a hater! 😂😂 But the truth is the truth. Draymond is the leader and the 2nd most important player to the warriors. Thanks for quantifying what ive been seeing bro👍👍👍👍

wow this was mind-blowingly good

Draymond Green is like an annoying player on the opposing team yet you love to have on your team.

It’s fucking bananas how good the content on this channel is

A stat you is not going to tell you ANYTHING about Draymond Green’s value.

Can u do more half court offence and defence video loving ur vids keep up the good work

The fact that Green pushes the ball up the floor makes it even more confusing how all of the talking heads were calling him out in the Durant argument. Did they forget or are they just stars f'ers?

You pinpointed this one hats off!!

100% agree with this. He's the most underrated player in the NBA. Even with his triple-doubles, he does so much that doesn't make the boxscore.

Curry is the most valuable to the warriors no doubt, KD is a luxury.

Can't be more appropiate than describing Draymond as chess grandmaster.

We just won the 4th with KD, this channel deserves more for these takes.

Wonderful video again! And here I am again asking permission to translate. :p

Incredible video! Doing the donkey some justice! :D

Yes Draymond's more valuable than KD. Any prolific scorer can replace KD and GS still wins it. No one can replace Draymond.

Love the vid and music

Just Brilliant!

You has a good signature background music

I always see how he jumps backward when contesting layups. The anticipation is superb.

Love Green, just great inspiration to my defensive game (not that I can barely do any of that tho)

Lonzo has a similar type of effect on the floor (though not as great of course) and is disrespected as well. Defense and playmaking are highly undervalued skills today.

When Draymond plays with the intensity that he's capable of, he is a nightmare. But no one has pointed out that he can't sustain this during the regular season. Durant is a HUGE blessing for the team. He's an offensive juggernaut that gets the Warriors EFFORTLESS wins throughout the regular season so that players aren't burnt out by the postseason.

Also he is the player with the best win percentage of all time

This guy does it again

I just want you to understand the gravity of your videos: I'm a warrior hater and more specifically I can't stand Draymond, yet I still watched the whole video because of how much I love your content. Please keep doing what you love!

Please do an analysis on Curry! Love your stuff.

this has quickly become one of my fave youtube channels... wish i would have discovered it sooner and i hope u make more videos soon. ill have to make a donation to ur patreon.

The part on transition offense reminds me Steve Nash, who is also with Warriors.

Love it, "Curry and the splash brothers." Jerebko is now the smash brother no. 3!!!

Could you do a video on Marcus Smart! On how he affects the game outside the box score?

Draymond really gets overlooked a lot. Not a blazers fan but they need a guy like him

Draymond and bogut are perfect power forward centre combo for the warriors system and to work with Steph and klay, off ball screeners to get movement going in motion high iq players Great defenders And unselfish do what the team needs kind of guys