Chris Broussard mocks Draymond Green's argument that players today are better than during Michael Jordan's era
Draymond Green has insisted over the past few years that players of this era are better than prior generations. He considers the recent crop of NBA players to have more talent and skill than those who came before them.
Fox Sports analyst Chris Broussard wasn’t buying Green’s contention and lambasted the Golden State Warriors forward on “The Odd Couple” podcast:
“He says talent is better. That’s a weak argument, that’s just saying everything gets better, which is not the case. Draymond, I’m sorry, you couldn’t play center on a regular basis back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Patrick Ewing would have had his way with you.
"David Robinson, Shaq, Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning, they would have destroyed you! Your boy Kevon Looney would have gotten worked by those dudes! The game was different, don’t tell me it’s better.”
(7:15 mark)
Draymond Green made that contention as part of his argument for why he named LeBron James as the best player ever over Michael Jordan. He said that Jordan’s competition was nowhere near what “King James” has been facing since 2003.
Broussard had a few things to say about Green’s contention but concentrated on the player’s comments about talent.
When Draymond Green entered the NBA in 2012, few were sure what position he would fit in. He was undersized to play center and didn’t have the offense to operate down the block. The game, however, has changed to such a degree that his skill seat became the prototype big man for the small ball revolution.
It also didn’t hurt that he played with two of the deadliest shooters the NBA has ever seen. Playing with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson allowed him to find a niche that has become critical in today’s style of play.
In the ‘80s and ‘90s, when spacing and the three-point shot weren’t what it was today, Green probably would not have had the same success. He would unquestionably be asked to defend the interior when the big man era was probably at its best.
Draymond Green would have to consistently take on the likes of the aforementioned superstar centers. Green could compete, but how he would really fare against those skilled and punishing big men will never be known.
Not all centers during that era were of the same caliber as Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson. But to be the best defender, as he consistently refers to himself, containing those MVPs would be where he would have been judged.
Draymond Green is the self-proclaimed best defender of all time in the NBA
Draymond Green created quite a stir when he declared that he was the best defender in the NBA in any era. He said this knowing he only has one Defensive Player of the Year award, while Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo have four each.
Part of his contention is likely the same reasoning he used for LeBron James’ GOAT case. Green considers the competition to be better during his career than compared to those in the past.
Draymond considers himself the greatest defender in NBA history. https://t.co/CyhRqS4hFT
This is coming from the same player who said that it was “very dumb to compare one era to the next era.” One has to love Green’s confidence and bravado as a competitor, but the logic behind his claim is somewhat jumbled.
Question… When they be comparing Era’s are they taking into consideration the drastic differences In style of play? Regardless of the answer, it’s very dumb to compare one era to the next era.
He has had success defending against Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the game, the rules, and the style are so vastly different that making these assertions has raised more than a few eyebrows.