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The NBA’s 10 Most Criminally Underrated Stars

By Gerald Bourguet

January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 25, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game on Christmas against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 89-83. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Draymond Green

2015-16 Statistics: 15.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG, .475/.423/.685 shooting, 20.5 PER

The only reason Draymond Green isn’t further up this list is that thanks to a recent string of triple-doubles, people are finally starting to take notice of the Golden State Warriors‘ Swiss Army knife. Still, make no mistake about it: Draymond Green is damn near a top-10 player in this league, and he’s easily the best power forward in the NBA right now.

It’s not just that he leads the league in triple-doubles (eight), or that he became the first non-guard to record at least eight triple-doubles in a season since Grant Hill in 1996-97. It’s not just that he recorded the NBA’s first “five-by-five” since 2012 either (24-11-8-5-5).

But when you consider he’s posted triple-doubles in four of his last seven games, his Western Conference Player of the Week honors (18.8 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 9.5 APG, 2.5 SPG, 46.2 FG%, 54.5 3P%) make a ton of sense. And that’s before mentioning that he’s been staggeringly close to triple-doubles on NINE other occasions:

  • 12/25 vs. Cavaliers: 22 points, 15 assists, 7 rebounds
  • 12/18 vs. Bucks: 21 points, 8 assists, 9 rebounds
  • 12/11 at Celtics: 24 points, 8 assists, 11 rebounds
  • 12/6 at Nets: 22 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds
  • 11/30 at Jazz: 20 points, 8 assists, 12 rebounds
  • 11/12 at Timberwolves: 23 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds
  • 11/7 at Kings: 10 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds
  • 11/6 vs. Nuggets: 12 points, 8 assists, 9 rebounds
  • 11/2 vs. Grizzlies: 11 points, 8 assists, 9 rebounds

Green is putting up career numbers across the board, he’s the team’s most versatile defender and his impact can be felt in every area where the Warriors excel. Stephen Curry is still the team’s MVP, but Green leads the Dubs in rebounding AND assists, while also chipping in 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. What other player in the NBA can claim that kind of versatility?

Draymond Green may not be a go-to scorer, and he might not be the kind of player you can build a franchise around. But in Golden State, he’s found the perfect situation and he’s maximizing his potential in every way possible. More than any other power forward in the NBA, Green deserves to not only make the All-Star Game, but to start in it as well.

Next: No. 2