2. His Defense Is Top-Notch
There are hardly any players in the league, if any, that can defend all five positions on the basketball court like Green. He can defend Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in the same game. We have seen it before. He’s gone up against some of the most skilled players in the NBA and has held almost all of them to limited production.
He is a good on-ball defender, plays the passing lanes well, can serve as a rim protector, and can chase around fast guards around the perimeter. He is playing like a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and is one of the major reasons why the Warriors have the top ranked defense in the league.
Teaming up Green alongside another defensive anchor in Andrew Bogut has made the Warriors interior defense the best in team history. Bogut will be here for at least a few more years, give him a legitimate defending four to play alongside him.
Golden State has a 97.7 defensive rating, which is first in the NBA. Green ranks in the top 20 league wide in defensive rebounds, steals, and blocks. He leads in defensive rating at 96.6 and defensive win shares at 4.1. He’s also fourth in defensive box plus/minus at 4.2. It’s drastically clear he’s one of the best, if not, the best defensive player in the league.