Draymond Green didn’t just revisit the 2012 NBA Draft on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show - he rewrote it with himself near the top.
The Golden State Warriors forward, who famously lasted until No. 35 in that draft, re-drafted the lottery and placed himself third overall behind only Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard.
At No. 1, Green stuck with Davis.
“No. 1, I still think you have to go with Anthony Davis,” Green said.
“I don’t think you can move Anthony Davis out that No. 1 slot. AD is on the Top 75 player list.
AD has a championship. AD has, I think, nine All-Stars.
He’s definitely lived up to the No. 1 pick. Hasn’t had an MVP, but AD No. 1, hands down.
Green then slotted Lillard at No. 2.
“Damian Lillard will be No. 2,” Green stated.
“Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA performer. Been incredible throughout his entire career.
Dame got to be No. 2.
And by the way, on my re-draft, I’m re-drafting off body of work. That’s individual accolades, that’s team accolades, and the whole thing mixed together… At No. 3 will be yours truly, myself, Draymond Green in the re-draft.
Green backed up that choice by pointing to his own résumé.
“That is nine-time All-Defensive Team, Defensive Player of the Year one time, four-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medal, although that don’t matter on here,” Green continued. “Two-time All-NBA, one-time second team, one-time third team.
Yeah, make no mistake about it, that is No. 3.
Bradley Beal came in at No. 4, with Green citing his three All-Star selections and one All-NBA nod. Khris Middleton rounded out the top five, with Green noting the championship and the fact that Middleton was drafted 39th overall.
The rest of Green’s order was Andre Drummond at No. 6, Harrison Barnes at No.
7, Jae Crowder at No. 8, Dion Waiters at No.
9, Evan Fournier at No. 10, Will Barton at No.
11, Maurice Harkless at No. 12, Austin Rivers at No. 13, and Festus Ezeli at No.
Green’s full re-draft:
- Anthony Davis
- Damian Lillard
- Draymond Green
- Bradley Beal
- Khris Middleton
- Andre Drummond
- Harrison Barnes
- Jae Crowder
- Dion Waiters
- Evan Fournier
- Will Barton
- Maurice Harkless
- Austin Rivers
- Festus Ezeli
Ezeli’s placement stood out as the clear homer pick, given that he was Green’s former Warriors teammate. Dion Waiters at No. 9 may be the other spot that invites a second look, but overall Green’s board was a pretty measured one.
The bigger debate is his own spot. Green may have nudged himself upward, but No. 3 is a defensible landing place. The case for Bradley Beal over him is there, but Beal’s résumé doesn’t match Green’s collection of hardware.
Beal has made three All-Star teams and one All-NBA Third Team. He also averaged more than 30 points per game in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons for the Washington Wizards, but the team results never followed. Washington missed the playoffs in the first of those seasons and was bounced in the first round in the next.
Green, meanwhile, has built a trophy case that includes four NBA championships, four All-Star selections, two All-NBA honors, and nine All-Defensive Team nods. The 36-year-old also won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
Even with the self-belief, Green acknowledged the obvious at the top of the board: Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard belong ahead of him. Both players made the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and for Green, they remain the clear top two from the 2012 class.
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