Who Are The Rim Protecting, 3-Point Shooting Unicorns of The NBA?

Who Are The Unicorns Of The NBA?

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after committing a turnover against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Draymond Green

There’s no question that Green belongs on the top tier of this combination of skills. His contributions as a small-ball center are a major reason the Golden State Warriors have gone 120-24 over the past two seasons.

The success of the small-ball Warriors has been a driving factor on the emphasis placed on small-ball lineups across the league.

Green has finished each of the last two seasons as a All-Defensive First Teamer and as a runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.

Green’s often valued defensively for his versatility and ability to switch on screens and defend multiple positions, but his rim protection skills shouldn’t be forgotten.

Green has finished each of the past two seasons by allowing opponents a 46.8 field goal percentage on shots at the rim, per Nylon Calculus. Both seasons have ranked in the top 21 spots in the league in field goal percentage allowed at the rim.

As for spacing the floor, Green lit it up in 2015-16, shooting 38.8 percent on three-pointers. He owes much of his shooting success to Stephen Curry and the many pick-and-pops that Golden State runs, with opponents often choosing to double-team Curry. Green isn’t much more than a catch-and-shoot big man, but that’s all he needs to be with the Splash Brothers surrounding him.