Draymond Green is playing with renewed vigor and the Warriors forward is aiming for another Defensive Player of the Year award, ESPN’s Nick Friedell writes. “Most importantly, I want to win, I want to be a Defensive Player of the Year again, and I want to be an All-Star again,” Green said. “And that is motivating me because a lot of people had counted me out. Same mistake people made before when I first came into the league — but a lot of people doubted me, and doubted me again. And that’s fuel to the fire.” Green won the DPOY award in 2017.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacted with feigned surprise regarding a report that Klay Thompson had received full medical clearance to practice. “I don’t know where that came from,” Kerr said, according to a tweet from Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. However, Kerr didn’t deny the report, Poole added in another tweet. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater said Kerr was trying to protect Thompson from media attention. If Thompson doesn’t participate in all team portions of practice, he could theoretically skip any required media requirements, which is Klay’s preference.
- De’Aaron Fox said it was a bit of a shock that Luke Walton was fired at this stage of the season, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. However, he added that the Kings have to put that behind them quickly. “You’ve just got to keep on pushing,” Fox said. “Obviously, you have some guys who have been through it in the middle of a season before, but you can’t go into the game worried about what happened. We’ve still got games to play.”
- LeBron James‘ one-game suspension will result in some cost savings for the Lakers, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. While James will lose a game check of $284K, the Lakers will receive a $142K credit toward the luxury tax that projects to save them $532.5K.
How many HOF players are averaging less than 10 points per game for their career? If he’s the first I wouldn’t be surprised. Might be the first effort based HOFer.
Agree but he’s also a pretty skilled facilitator on offense. And on defense he’s out there coaching the other guys in addition to his own play.
Dennis Rodman was an effort guy who made it to the hall. His defense of course was excellent but he was a gifted rebounder too. Long, could jump, and then of course the effort.
For some reason I thought Rodman and Deke averaged more than 10. I didn’t feel like looking anything up at midnight last night lol. And I forgot Ben was inducted recently.
I’ll have to look and see who else was on that list of 12.
Yes but we understood your point. Whether it’s rare or there’s a few guys we know what you mean. The effort guys… not many of them.
Rodman only made 7,3 ppg for his carreer
Without thinking too deeply Rodman & Ben Wallace come to mind, haven’t check their numbers lately, but no way they did average more than 10…
You right it is very rare, having said that no one can ever doubt that Drey is gonna be in the HoF, dude is out of this world good!
More often than not he is the best player of his team!
Actually there are already 12 HOF players who averaged less than 10 PPG, the most notable being Dikembe Mutombo who averaged 9.8 PPG during his career.
Dikembe, a true larger than life player, and one of the NBA’s most recognizable faces alongside Dennis Rodman, for mildly separate reasons though..lol
Still, both players made playing defense cool. Heck, Rodman even made rebounding cool. You can’t tell the story of basketball in the 90’s without mentioning Mt. Mutombo, the finger wag, The Worm, and Rodman’s hair color combinations. Always loved these two players, and as a lefty with a broken shot, they both helped me see there was way more to being good at basketball than just scoring!!
Ben Wallace averaged under 6.
Green is first ballot hall of famer for sure!
He is currently at 35% probability on BBRef which sounds about right. I think it under weights his reputation and key to a core that was so dominant and changed basketball. He also can play for many more years turning into a Iggy type later in his career for the team. Longevity will for sure help his case especially if he is getting some more rings with casts featuring Kuminga/Wiseman in like 5-6 years. If they pull off the spurs contend forever he can put together a hell of a resume if he wants to play till 39-40. Doing it all with one team with 3 players that all make it for the combined accomplishments also helps his case.
Agree Chapman. Well said.
If he wins another DPOY his % probably goes up a lot. Mark Eaton is the only multi-DPOY award winner not in the HOF.
Gobert, Kawhi, and Dwight still being active.
What I find most amazing is anyone who played against him or with him wants Green on their team. Every coach wants him as their defensive specialist.
I agree he should be in, not first ballot but he will get there eventually.
About the BBRef probability… idk. Manu is a first ballot HoF 100%, considering its the basketball and not NBA HoF, and he has a 20% probability according to BBRef.
Iggy and Derrick Rose might be, like Billups, MVP’s (Finals / RS) without making it. Is there any other case?
If you think about who will be voting him in… say he plays another 9 years til hes 40. 13 years from now I think you’ll have a group of voters that’s more prone to inducting him as a 1st ballot. Seems to be slightly less games being played when it comes to the voting recently, not as much ‘well he cant be a 1st ballot, but hes a HOF’ kinda voting.
Warriors have 3 first ballot HOFers in Curry, Green, and Klay, but the one I wonder about is Iggy.
Has he done enough to get in too?
Iggy reminds me of Robert Horry. Great role player. Iggy just had the keys to the kingdom in Philly to start his career after AI was shipped out so his stats are better.