Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Player Power Rankings: Damian Lillard for MVP?

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard finished the game with 34 points. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard finished the game with 34 points. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 21
Next
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; (EDITORS NOTE: caption correction) Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green celebrates after defeating Kevin Hart in a three point contest during the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; (EDITORS NOTE: caption correction) Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green celebrates after defeating Kevin Hart in a three point contest during the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Last Rank: No. 7

Position: Power Forward

Age: 25

Slash Line: .486/.405/.684

Season Averages: 34.2 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 1.3 3PM

Stephen Curry makes all of the headlines, but without Draymond, the Golden State Warriors wouldn’t be this good. He’s the team’s defensive anchor, leading rebounder, primary facilitator, and one of the more complete scorers in the NBA.

Curry deserves his share of the hype, but Green is being criminally underrated in one of the most historically significant seasons of all-time.

Power forwards aren’t supposed to pile up triple-doubles in the manner Green is.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Green has already recorded the most triple-doubles by a forward in a single season since Grant Hill had 13 in 1996-97. That’s quite impressive considering Hill was a ball-dominant small forward and Green plays the 4.

It’s even more impressive when one considers the fact that Hill had a usage rate of 28.3 percent, and Green’s is an underwhelming 18.9 percent.

No player makes better use their opportunities than Green. Whether he’s the focal point or an afterthought, he cherishes every touch and commits himself to making the right play on both ends of the floor whenever his number is called.

Green may not have the scoring numbers that appeal to the masses, but he’s a different type of superstar.

Next: Are Numbers Enough?