Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green’s Case For Most Improved Player
Closing Arguments
On the season, Green is averaging 12.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in 32.6 minutes per game while posting .442/.338/.709 shooting splits. Aside from the free throw percentage, every number you just read is a career high.
Maybe that’s not quite as impressive considering the stat lines from Green’s first two seasons in the NBA, but as has always been the case with Do-It-All Draymond, his impact simply can’t be measured on the stat sheet.
He’s the best defender on the league’s best defense. He’s a glue guy who makes hustle plays and taunts his opponents to provide his team with an edge. He’s an enforcer who throws grapes at Seattle Seahawks fans when they call out Stephen Curry‘s mother. I don’t think it’s possible for him to be any more endearing to Bay Area sports fans.
Steph Curry on Draymond Green playing enforcer in Seattle: "He's Draymond on and off the court."
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) January 12, 2015
The problem with the MIP award — and every other individual award the NBA hands out — is that voters rarely pay attention to the entire league. They look for the best numbers, try to cast aside at least some homerism and then vote accordingly. Despite building a reputation as being vastly improved player and an instrumental part of Golden State’s success, Green won’t show up on that radar.
That’s not to say that Green has improved more than Jimmy Butler. Butler’s stats actually back up his monumental improvement as well, and there’s nobody in the league who deserves it more than Jimmy Buckets. But if Butler continues to struggle with his shot like he has recently, and if Green finds his three-point touch again, this “runaway” category might heat up in the second half of the season.