Where Spida ranks Draymond among the best defenders in the NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Donovan Mitchell recognizes greatness.
Speaking to Theo Pinson on the ‘Run your Race’ podcast, the Cleveland Cavaliers star shared which players gave him the most trouble when sharing the field.
“No command: Jrue [Holiday]Lu Dort, OG Anunoby, I’ll put Bam [Adebayo] on that,” Mitchell replied when asked which five defenders give him the most trouble.
After pondering for a few moments who to name as the fifth-best defenseman he’s ever faced, he named two, including a current Warriors defensive staple.
“[Draymond Green] And [Marcus] Smart needs to be tied for fifth,” Mitchell concluded.
Each of the players Mitchell listed is a defensive mainstay in their own right, but for Green included in the list, it’s a no-brainer. His defensive intensity is on another level.
Green, the 2016-17 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, considered it a “slap in the face” to be named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2022-23 instead of First Team along with Evan Mobley, Brook Lopez, Jaren Jackson. Jr., Holiday and Alex Caruso.
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Regardless of the defensive accolades he earns at the end of each NBA season, Green will surely play the Warriors with a passionate defense unless they want to be heard by Golden State’s vocal leader.
And Mitchell knows firsthand how troublesome and fierce Green can be defensively.
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