Put together a championship team that has Draymond Green as its best player

[Im Still Ballin]

It would have to be a defensively-slanted team that has shooting and needs his playmaking on offense. Like the '00s Pistons.

[Full Court]

Lol. Good luck with that.

[John8204]

Well you aren't going to get a starting five you would have to go 15 deep....but it's possible.

PG - Mark Price, Vinny Johnson. Mark Jackson
SG - JJ Redick, Kyle Korver, Jeff Hornacek
SF - Draymond Green, Tony Allen. Tony Kukoc
PF - Bill Laimbeer, Andre Iguadola, Truck Robinson
C - Joakim Noah, Steven Adams, Walker Kessler

[Kblaze8855]

You could argue peak Dray vs anyone on the 04 Pistons I suppose. Billups or Sheed were the best total players and Sheed never chose to do what he could and Billups was out there having 13ppg 31% shooting conference finals. Rip scored a quick 18-19 a game but nothing else. Ben didn’t have an offensive role. The 14/10/7 2 steal DPOY level 39% from 3 Draymond? It’s not totally outta line to say he was as good as anyone on the Pistons was when they won. The extreme defensive era they were in skews their numbers. It’s hard to really say how good they would appear individually in the league Dray plays.

[SouBeachTalents]

I accept your challenge

Reaves
Christie
OG
2016 Dray
Lopez

[warriorfan]

I don’t think a team like the pistons would work like it did anymore with defensive rule changes

[Kblaze8855]

They will be a good team, but yeah, they couldn’t possibly be what they were today. I just wasn’t looking at it like that because just using prime Draymond we’re already invoking time travel here. I was looking at it like if you added him to the team.

[TheMan]

Well you aren't going to get a starting five you would have to go 15 deep....but it's possible.

PG - Mark Price, Vinny Johnson. Mark Jackson
SG - JJ Redick, Kyle Korver, Jeff Hornacek
SF - Draymond Green, Tony Allen. Tony Kukoc
PF - Bill Laimbeer, Andre Iguadola, Truck Robinson
C - Joakim Noah, Steven Adams, Walker Kessler

There are players in this team whose peaks were as good as Green if not better. (especially if you value O over D).

[John8204]

There are players in that team whose peak were as good as Green's if not better.

Cool...but is Draymond the better player

[iamgine]

Al Horford
Draymond Green
Detlef Schrempf
Desmond Bane
Kyle Lowry

[RRR3]

Al Horford
Draymond Green
Detlef Schrempf
Desmond Bane
Kyle Lowry
Draymond is not better than peak Kyle Lowry.

[Reggie43]

Not that good of a player to build your team around.

[Reggie43]

Al Horford
Draymond Green
Detlef Schrempf
Desmond Bane
Kyle Lowry

Peak Detlef in todays Nba could probably be a 25pts 10rebs 5asts guy, hard to justify Draymond being better than that even if we overrate his impact.

[TheMan]

Peak Detlef in todays Nba could probably be a 25pts 10rebs 5asts guy, hard to justify Draymond being better than that even if we overrate his impact.

I was thinking the same, also someone like Toni Kukoc, he'd be better in a less physical era like today

[999Guy]

The 2015 Warriors...

People don't have the intellectual courage to acknowledge Draymond was as good as Curry year to year until probably the 22 title.

But no worries I'll fix that shit right up.

I'm not about to pretend a guy that was dragging Curry to a title win, kicking and ****ing screaming in the 2016 playoffs, over the likes of LeBron, KD, WB, Harden, and Lillard no less, is a guy easily replaceable or hard to build around in any way.

Curry is literally the litmus test to show how ****ing good you have to be at scoring and offense to possibly, possibly even come close to topping peak Draymond's overall impact, and it's a really ****ing hard, really ****ing high level test, tested across a lot of opponents and styles for a lot of years.

Kevin Durant did not even pass this test to me.

Thinking you can throw any scorer or offensive player in the mix and they're topping Draymond is just stupid after everything we've seen. For whatever you think about the power of scoring and offense, a dominant defender is pretty damn good, relevant counter to that on a basic logical level.

Kyrie Irving or Kyle Lowry at their peaks are not shifting games like 15, 16, and 17 Draymond, and the Warriors are still the best team in the WC each of those years if you replace Curry with them.

[Im Still Ballin]

Not that good of a player to build your team around.

Don't have to build around him; just has to be the best player if that makes sense. A democratic offense like the '00s Pistons or the '12 to '14 Spurs. Peak Draymond's probably the best player on those Spurs teams if he's subbed in for Diaw. Play him alongside Duncan in the starting lineup. That's probably a 65-70+ win team right there.

[Im Still Ballin]

Could you imagine 2016 Draymond on those early 2010's Spurs teams? All-time great potential right there.

Parker / Mills
Green / Belinelli
Kawhi / Manu
Draymond / Diaw
Duncan / Splitter

Kawhi was still in his roleplaying phase. I think peak Draymond edges him out as the best/most impactful player.

[RRR3]

Could you imagine 2016 Draymond on those early 2010's Spurs teams? All-time great potential right there.

Parker / Mills
Green / Belinelli
Kawhi / Manu
Draymond / Diaw
Duncan / Splitter

Kawhi was still in his roleplaying phase. I think peak Draymond edges him out as the best/most impactful player.
Draymond was not better than Tim Duncan lol

[Reggie43]

Don't have to build around him; just has to be the best player if that makes sense. A democratic offense like the '00s Pistons or the '12 to '14 Spurs. Peak Draymond's probably the best player on those Spurs teams if he's subbed in for Diaw. Play him alongside Duncan in the starting lineup. That's probably a 65-70+ win team right there.

I get what you are saying but he is just not that good of a player. Put him in a different system like the 00s Pistons or 12 14 Spurs and he wouldnt even achieve the numbers he got with the Warriors in his prime and wouldnt look as good.

[Im Still Ballin]

Draymond was not better than Tim Duncan lol

Old, 2010s Tim Duncan?

[Im Still Ballin]

I get what you are saying but he is just not that good of a player. Put him in a different system like the 00s Pistons or 12 14 Spurs and he wouldnt even achieve the numbers he got with the Warriors in his prime and wouldnt look as good.

Why not? Peak Draymond would be like a supercharged Diaw with versatile DPOY-level defense. Boris fit very well on those Spurs teams; why wouldn't Dray? His passing, ball handling, shooting, defense, and transition play would fit seamlessly within San Antonio's motion offense.

[RRR3]

Old, 2010s Tim Duncan?
Uh yeah? Duncan was great until his last season.

[Im Still Ballin]

Uh yeah? Duncan was great until his last season.

Did I say otherwise? You don't think peak Draymond has a case over 2010s Tim Duncan? I disagree.

[RRR3]

Did I say otherwise? You don't think peak Draymond has a case over 2010s Tim Duncan? I disagree.
Duncan gives you a lot more offensively.

[Im Still Ballin]

Duncan gives you a lot more offensively.

Was it really Duncan's offense that was powering those high-octane offenses? It seemed like it was more of a democratic, collaborative effort—a motion offense of movement, shooting, cutting, screening, and passing. I think peak Draymond's passing, ball handling, shooting, and transition play would provide more value in that context.

[Reggie43]

Why not? Peak Draymond would be like a supercharged Diaw with versatile DPOY-level defense. Boris fit very well on those Spurs teams; why wouldn't Dray? His passing, ball handling, shooting, defense, and transition play would fit seamlessly within San Antonio's motion offense.

How would his numbers translate on the Spurs system? Would he look that much better next to Duncan and Kawhi to be considered their best player? Add in the fact that its hard to speculate adding players on chemistry based teams and expect them to easily win especially adding a volatile player like Draymond.

[JohnMax]

1980s Celtics. He does everything better than Bird except score.

[Im Still Ballin]

How would his numbers translate on the Spurs system?

His numbers would probably look similar. 14-15 points, 9-10 rebounds, 6-8 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks, 3 turnovers. 50% 2PT; 37-38% 3PT; 70% FT.

He's not playing with Steph and Klay but he'd be operating in a supremely well-oiled motion offense. He'd fit in naturally with the screening, off-ball movement, and excessive passing.


Would he look that much better next to Duncan and Kawhi to be considered their best player?

It would be close between the three I'm sure. Even Tony had an argument at times during some of those years. Manu in 2011 as well.


Add in the fact that its hard to speculate adding players on chemistry based teams and expect them to easily win especially adding a volatile player like Draymond.

I'm sure winning would soothe any issues if there are any. Draymond wouldn't be the first dirty player to play for San Antonio.

[Reggie43]

Different system yet his numbers would basically stay the same? Draymond would also have to change his attitude to play there and even then he wouldnt be their best player.

[Im Still Ballin]

Different system yet his numbers would basically stay the same? Draymond would also have to change his attitude to play there and even then he wouldnt be their best player.

I mean, this is all hypothetical; the specific numbers really don't matter all that much. It's about his skillset and how it fits within San Antonio's system and its personnel.

He'd have the ball in hands a lot. Being the transition player, ball handler, playmaker, screener, roller, and shooter that he was.

[Overdrive]

What does best player even mean? Having the best offense, being the best defender or just having the most impact which is a barely tangible thing.

Draymond on the '04 means either Sheed or Ben drops out of the S5. Imo that would make the team worse.

I can see him replacing Diaw, but I doubt he'd be the Spurs' best player in any way.

I also don't think you can construct a team for this era with him as the best player to win 4 games against championship caliber star led team.

[NBAGOAT]

i think you could build one but it's not realistic salary cap wise. You need like a 5 all star lineup I think to beat a team with a superstar and they need to have good fit/chemistry

[Im Still Ballin]

Let's not forget peak Draymond went 6-3 without Steph Curry in 2016. Six of those games came in the playoffs. All games were against playoff teams. Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Portland. He averaged the following:

- 9 games
- 16.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.6 blocks, 2.4 turnovers
- 52.02% TS, 37.2% 3PT, 70.5% FT

His game didn't magically disappear without Curry. We have a tendency to overstate the dependency.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDpTpDUXQEo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFFGmnVmx5c


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aohkvvHlQFg

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_iH14fXJJE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJxDB12TXws

[Carbine]

This is an impossible task in today's NBA.

Every great scorer you would need would be considered better than Draymond. A lot of championship #2 scorers are better than Draymond through recent history.

[iamgine]

Using 2023 players:

Jaren Jackson Jr
Draymond Green
Buddy Hield
Desmond Bane
De'Aaron Fox

[warriorfan]

Let's not forget peak Draymond went 6-3 without Steph Curry in 2016. Six of those games came in the playoffs. All games were against playoff teams. Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Portland. He averaged the following:

- 9 games
- 16.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.6 blocks, 2.4 turnovers
- 52.02% TS, 37.2% 3PT, 70.5% FT

His game didn't magically disappear without Curry. We have a tendency to overstate the dependency.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDpTpDUXQEo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFFGmnVmx5c


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aohkvvHlQFg

Draymond played super well in 2016 and had that legendary game 7 but 2016 ended up being a bit of an outlier for Draymond. He was never able to reproduce that, especially offensively. In 2016 he was playing like a stretch 4 to an extent while giving dpoy caliber defense and being able to handle the ball. His 3 point shooting was never able to recover from the drop he had after 2016. Then he ended up losing all confidence in his offensive game. If you saw any of the season where Curry was out for long stretches, Dray certainly looked lost out there and dependency was evident.

In 2016 was when the Warriors were at their height of absurd depth. It was the last year that Curry was on his cheap deal he signed while he was struggling heavily through severe ankle injuries. After Curry signed his cheap deal he was able to get healthy and then developed into an MVP level player. That huge chunk of extra salary allowed the Warriors to have the deepest rotation in the league.

Dray’s 2016 year was a personal outlier for him and it was when the Warriors were at their deepest.

Even that being said Steph was pressured to return back ahead of schedule from his MCL injury after the Warriors dropped a game by double digits once they got to Portland.

[tpols]

You could argue peak Dray vs anyone on the 04 Pistons I suppose. Billups or Sheed were the best total players and Sheed never chose to do what he could and Billups was out there having 13ppg 31% shooting conference finals. Rip scored a quick 18-19 a game but nothing else. Ben didn’t have an offensive role. The 14/10/7 2 steal DPOY level 39% from 3 Draymond? It’s not totally outta line to say he was as good as anyone on the Pistons was when they won. The extreme defensive era they were in skews their numbers. It’s hard to really say how good they would appear individually in the league Dray plays.

You could also argue that Billups, RIP, Sheed, and Big Ben were all better talents than dray since they were all All Star talents who formed the best defense ever statistically.

Ben and Dray is a clunky fit. Sheed could actually shoot and score at a way higher level. And he was much taller than dray and big Ben which was kinda necessary. You don't want two tweener height guys who can't shoot clogging everything up.

The most glaring thing though would be the offense. Chauncey plays nothing like Curry and Rip plays nothing like klay spacing wise. Hamilton was a midrange off ball shooter who wasn't great at 3s and Billups worked with the ball in his hands. So the spacing and dynamic that Dray could run with the splash brothers wouldn't exist in Detroits system with their personal.

He wouldn't be anywhere near as useful on a team like that and would in all likelihood come off the bench for the 2004 Pistons.

Larry Brown isn't benching prime big Ben or sheed for dray.

[ILLsmak]

Dray is one of the few guys you can't do this for. Maybe Rodman would be similar. Dray is not a good enough play maker to help people shine. He has to be a second or third option on O, even if he brings the ball up. Also, on defense, he's not a rim protector, and he's not a stopper. He was a special player, but he's not that good. Haha. He's in no way better than Ben Wallace, that's nuts. You could maybe do Ben because you'd have more leeway, and you could even argue Ben WAS the best player on that team.

Dray is too much of a swiss army knife. He's not like Pippen, he can't lead a team. Honestly, Dray might just not be that good. He def had a great situation, and he was allowed to do things that probably weren't necessary in order for them to win. Like I dunno if they NEED his level of play making to win. There are better play makers, better defenders, better scorers. Like put Tay since we are talking about him. Hard to see how it wouldn't be a better fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruEfcAgebzU

Look at all of those passes. It's like cool, but is that gonna help a team win a championship where he is the best player? I don't think so. He can't score. His big post ups are on like 6'4 guys. That's his one asset, getting the reb and pushing it. All of the passes he makes in the offense are pretty meh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA_86GOn67I

It's hard to see how Rodman couldn't make those same passes. And I've seen him dribble it out on the break w/ DET. Dray just not good enough to lead a championship team. SRY.

-Smak

[tpols]

A lot of people are forgetting Dray wasn't even the original PF on the Warriors. All Star David Lee was. And then he got hurt. Dray was literally a bench player outside extreme circumstance so arguing he could be the best player on a title winning team is completely absurd.

[RRR3]

A lot of people are forgetting Dray wasn't even the original PF on the Warriors. All Star David Lee was. And then he got hurt. Dray was literally a bench player outside extreme circumstance so arguing he could be the best player on a title winning team is completely absurd.
He was behind David Lee because he was a rookie and a sophomore. Ttrolls dumb as a rock as usual.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I don't think that you can find a real go to guy that will get buckets in the Finals in the clutch that would be a less valuable player than Draymond Green, even in his prime. You almost never see a championship team without a guy like that, cliffs would be the last Piston team but the Billups of that season was close to that kind of player and I would say more valuable to most teams than even prime Green. Without championships would we think of Green as a future Hall of Famer? I would say no.