Golden State Warriors: Is Draymond Green The Best PF In The NBA?

The Verdict

You could also make the argument that Green’s success is simply a product of his environment. He’s in a system perfectly tailored to his skill set, and playing alongside two of the NBA’s deadliest three-point shooters — one of whom is the league MVP — certainly gives him more freedom to operate than he would have if he were the centerpiece of another team.

But I’ll answer your argument with a counterargument: Basketball is, and has always been, a team game.

Who cares if Draymond Green might not be capable of leading another team as its star player? That’s not the reality we live in, and hypothetical arguments shouldn’t bring Green’s perceived value down. The reality we live in has shown us that among power forwards, there’s not a single one in this league who has more of an impact on a winning team on a night-to-night basis.

For a historically great team, Green’s vital and versatile role shouldn’t be overlooked simply because he’s not a prolific scorer or franchise cornerstone. Shouldn’t it matter that he’s quite possibly the most beloved — and maybe even most important — Warrior in the Bay Area?

Basketball is not played in a vacuum, and while it’s easy to wonder if those other teams would be as good with Green being swapped in for their power forward, we can say without a doubt that the Golden State Warriors wouldn’t be the same team with Aldridge, Love, Griffin or even Davis playing in his stead.

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Draymond Green may not be a superstar like Davis or Griffin, but he has a bigger impact than any power forward in the NBA for a historically great team. He may not have as much talent as his competition in this category, but you could make the argument that this player who knows his vital role on a championship team — and also found a way to expand on it — is now the best power forward in the league.