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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 26

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the second half at Toyota Center. The Warriors won 114 to 110. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the second half at Toyota Center. The Warriors won 114 to 110. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-104. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Draymond Green

“System player” pundits, look away! Avert your eyes! It’s the only way to save you from the undeniable truth that Draymond Green is a superstar! But for those of you who are still here, you’ve known for a long time that Green is one of the most important players to his respective team in the NBA right now.

That’s the thing I don’t get: Why is that “system player” label such a bad thing? Why is it wrong to say that Green might not be as good if he had developed on another team, or that someone like Kawhi Leonard wouldn’t have been on the fast track to stardom without growing up in the San Antonio Spurs’ championship culture?

While I’ll quickly concede that Leonard is a transcendent player who would’ve eventually found stardom no matter where he played, I don’t see it as such a bad thing that the Golden State Warriors helped make Green the triple-double machine that he is, especially since Green developing into such a versatile player is what helped make the Warriors the potential all-time great team that they are now in return.

Instead of wondering about what kind of player Green might be playing for a team like the Sacramento Kings or questioning whether you’d want to build a franchise around him, I’m far more interested in his fit with one of the greatest teams we’ve ever seen, especially as their emotional, passionate locker room leader.

In his best season yet, Green is destined for an All-NBA designation to go with his first All-Star selection, averaging 13.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game — numbers that no one in NBA history has posted for an entire season.

Throw in his 48.4 percent shooting from the field and his 38.5 percent shooting from three-point range and you’ve got one of the most versatile players in NBA history.

If it weren’t for the freakish talents of Russell Westbrook, Green would be leading the league in triple-doubles with 13. His versatility on the defensive end allows him to guard five positions, but he’s also leading the team in rebounds AND assists. Green is a human Swiss Army knife and he’s the second most important player on a team that could win 73 games this season.

More hoops habit: NBA: Ranking The League's Top 25-Year-Olds

So yeah, I’m fairly confident placing him at No. 1 among all 26-year-olds, even if on an individual basis, you’d pick someone else to start a franchise with.