Draymond Green has never been one to shy away from the spotlight-or a little back-and-forth. But this time, the conversation around him isn’t about a scuffle or a viral quote.
It’s about legacy. Specifically, whether the Golden State Warriors forward should be considered a superstar or the ultimate role player.
On a recent episode of the No Fouls Given show, Danny Green and Paul Pierce dove into that very debate. And Danny didn’t hold back. He called Draymond “the greatest role player of all time”-a compliment, but one that comes with a clear ceiling.
“That’s the reason why I think he’s the greatest role player of all-time, because he’s going to the Hall of Fame,” Green said. “So if you put him in Charlotte, is he still going to be a superstar? Is he a Big Three guy on a team like that?”
Danny’s argument hinges on context. Draymond’s brilliance, he suggests, comes from how perfectly he fits within the Warriors’ system-flanked by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, in a scheme designed to maximize his unique skill set. Strip that away, and does the impact hold?
It’s a fair question. Draymond’s game isn’t built on scoring.
He’s not dropping 30 a night or isolating defenders with flashy crossovers. But what he does do-defend at an elite level, facilitate the offense, bring edge and leadership-is invaluable.
And in Golden State, it’s championship material.
The debate isn’t about whether Draymond is good-that’s never been in question. It’s about how his value translates outside of the Warriors’ ecosystem.
Would he be a franchise cornerstone on a team like the Hornets, where the roster includes LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Kon Knueppel? Danny Green doesn’t think so.
“Would you consider him a star on that team? Any team, would he be a star?”
he asked rhetorically.
Still, Draymond’s résumé speaks loudly. Four championships.
Multiple All-Defensive Team selections. A Defensive Player of the Year award.
Whether you call him a role player or a superstar, he’s a future Hall of Famer-and that’s not up for debate.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are grinding through a stretch of the season without their leader, Stephen Curry, who’s sidelined with a knee injury. But in their latest outing against the Pelicans at Chase Center, it was Jimmy Butler who stepped into the spotlight and delivered when it mattered most.
Butler logged 37 minutes and filled the box score with 24 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. He was the engine down the stretch, and Draymond was quick to recognize it.
“We were trying to get him to attack that way in the beginning,” Green said after the game. “He just kept telling us, ‘They’re loading up.
So we need to create some other movement because they’re just loading.’ Once everybody else started moving around him, then it opened gaps, and he was able to do what he did.”
Translation: Butler read the defense, waited for the right moment, and then took over. That’s the kind of presence the Warriors need while Curry is out.
And Draymond knows it. “When Steph’s not out there, we definitely need him to be more aggressive, and he was tonight.”
Gary Payton II also made his presence felt, turning in a double-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. The Warriors came away with a 104-96 win-a gritty, team-driven performance that keeps them afloat in a crowded Western Conference.
At 11-10, Golden State currently sits eighth in the West. Not ideal, but not disastrous either.
The next challenge? A home matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder-a team that’s young, fast, and hungry.
As for Draymond, the debate will rage on. Superstar or role player, he’s still the emotional compass of this Warriors team. And with Curry out, that leadership-and that edge-matters more than ever.