Why Draymond continued to help young Warriors drafted to replace him originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green is probably the most passionate teammate in the NBA. That brings some problems, but a lot of greatness, like four great NBA championships.
Part of being an elite teammate is mentoring younger, inexperienced players, even if some are called upon to take your job. One aspect of Green’s game that doesn’t get talked about enough is his service to younger Warriors over the years.
Speaking to one of his students, Kevon Looney, on the “Draymond Green Show” on Sunday, Green discussed being a helpful veteran, especially knowing Golden State has tried to replace him.
“Since [Looney] arrived in San Francisco – Oakland actually – with the Golden State Warriors, he arrived to take my spot,” Green told Looney. “The Warriors kept calling people for five or six years to get me out of there. I can just say the names, I won’t remember the order. It looked like Loon then [Jordan Bell]Eric Paschall, [Alen Smailagić] and the list went on. The Warriors kept calling for people to replace me.
“And I get it, by the way. It was never like, ‘Ah, that’s bulls–t,’ or ‘F–k that, I’m not going to teach this guy anything.’ That was never the case for me.”
Green takes no offense to the Warriors’ approach to the NBA draft, in which they repeatedly try to replace him.
Instead, the 12-year NBA veteran teaches his rookie teammates everything he knows.
Why? Because that’s what the four-time NBA All-Star did when he was a youngster in college and with the Warriors.
“When David Lee got hurt, I took over and he never stopped teaching,” Green recalls. “He never stopped teaching. I love David Lee to death. [He] will always have my love and respect.
“At Michigan State there was competition. [Travis Walton] taught us: ‘I’m competing with Kalin Lucas because he’s coming to take my place. But that’s my little brother. And I’m going to teach him everything I know.”
Lee lent a helping hand to Green during the then-young forward’s transition into Golden State’s starting lineup, and No. 23 saw what the internal competition should look like during his years as a Spartan.
Green has paid off this not only by helping to bring four Larry O’Brien Championship trophies to the Bay, but also by teaching his younger teammates, like Looney, the ins and outs of the game.
“I have tried to teach and teach this man everything I know [Looney] here because I felt that was my duty,” Green added.
Green acknowledged the murky situation with former Warriors guard Jordan Poole, but said he also took him under his wing before things went south.
While Golden State hasn’t found a replacement for Green in previous drafts, it will certainly keep trying.
Either way, Green, 34, is always ready to show the ropes.
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