Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green is officially an NBA All-Star. Who woulda thunk? Well, actually…
“The first day of Summer League practice,” recalled Warriors general manager Bob Myers to Greg Papa of 95.7 The Game earlier this month, harkening back to July 2012, “I remember our coaches came over and said this guy could teach our defensive structure right now, after one day. He had that, which should not be understated and cannot be, because intelligence in basketball — in a sport where you have to work together, you have to rely on each other, especially the intricate schemes of the NBA…you have to have a brain.”
Rusty Simmons‘ report from the San Francisco Chronicle that summer was one of the first glimmers of light shed on Green’s elite IQ:
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Myers explained it in layman’s football terms.
“He brought an elite ability to understand the game both on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side of the ball, equivalent to a middle linebacker that doesn’t have the size,” said Myers. “They’re making the right read every time and they’re there, not because they’re faster or stronger, but because they’re smarter on every play on every read.”
Where did this all come from?
“His mama,” Mary Babers-Green, Draymond’s mom, of course, told LetsGoWarriors recently, perhaps only half-jokingly.
Green has been surrounded by basketball knowledge since Day One — or roughly Day 730, give or take (you know, 365 times two) — apparently.
According to Babers-Green, Draymond has watched older players starting at two years old at hometown Saginaw, Michigan’s Civitan Recreation Center. His uncle Bennie Babers was his first coach, then it was Lou Dawkins, who helped guide Saginaw High School to two state championships when Green was a junior and senior.
Heck, Draymond’s godfather is Detroit Pistons great Joe Dumars, who is known for his cerebral approach to the game, Green’s AAU coach was Durand “Speedy” Walker, who is still a scout for the Pistons even after the recent regime change from Dumars to Stan Van Gundy, and, by the way, there’s this NCAA coach named Tom Izzo, who happens to be a long-time friend of Walker’s.
“He inherited it, basically,” said Babers-Green of her All-Star son. “We have a basketball family and community. He has always been a student of the game.”
Of course, brains alone can’t earn you the distinction of “All-Star”. Said Myers:
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To his credit, he came back in great shape his second year. So now you’ve got a guy who’s in good shape, that plays extremely hard — which is another skill — that knows the game, and now he’s even better. So now, after his second year, you say, ‘What’s next for Draymond, because he loves to work?’
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You can learn how to make a three-point shot. You can add another dimension. So then he goes home, goes back to Michigan, Saginaw, wherever he’s working out, and goes and does that.
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So, like Steph (Curry) — which he doesn’t get much credit for — these guys, and even other guys on our team, are adding elements to their game every year because of their work ethic.
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There you have it. The three stools of NBA greatness: IQ, body, work ethic. Few sit on that stool better than Draymond Green, NBA All-Star.
BONUS LINKS FROM SUMMER LEAGUE 2012:
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via NBA)
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