Draymond Green

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Green grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans, helping them earn two Final Four appearances and a Big Ten tournament championship in 2012. Throughout his four-year college career, Green earned conference and national honors, including Big Ten Conference Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore and consensus All-American and NABC National Player of the Year honors as a senior. He was drafted 35th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors and later played a key role on the Warriors' 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 championship teams. Playing significant minutes as an undersized center in the Warriors' 'Death Lineup', Green was cited as one of the leaders in an emerging trend in the NBA of versatile frontcourt players capable of playing and defending multiple positions as well as making plays for teammates. He is considered one of the best screeners and defensive players of the 2010s and 2020s, known for his steals, shot-blocking, rebounding, and overall defensive play. He has been criticized for conduct perceived as unsportsmanlike as well as physically aggressive play, leading many to consider him a 'dirty' player, and also has the second-most career ejections of any NBA player, behind only Rasheed Wallace.

In Their Own Story

Green's professional journey began with a modest NBA debut on October 31, playing just one minute against the Phoenix Suns. By December 9 of that season, his expanded role helped the Warriors win eight of ten games, highlighted by a game-winning layup on December 12 against the Miami Heat. His physicality and aggression defined his style; he was ejected in a December 25, 2013 game for a flagrant 2 foul on Blake Griffin, resulting in a $15,000 fine. Conversely, his defensive prowess shone in the 2013 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs, where he started Game 2 of the second round to secure a victory in San Antonio for the first time since 1996–97. Green's career is marked by extreme highs and lows; while he is celebrated for his steals and shot-blocking, he also holds the second-most career ejections in NBA history, behind only Rasheed Wallace.

Reader's Guide

Green attended Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Michigan, where he played for coach Lou Dawkins. As a sophomore in 2005–06, he averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds per game. As a junior in 2006–07, he averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals per game as he led Saginaw to the Class A State Championship and a 26–1 record. On November 14, 2007, Green signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Michigan State. Green had also considered signing with Michigan and Kentucky. As a senior in 2007–08, Green averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocked shots per game in leading the Saginaw High Trojans to a 27–1 record, a No. 4 national ranking by USA Today and a Class A State Championship for a second straight year. He was subsequently named captain of the Detroit Free Press All-State Dream Team, and was rated the No. 36 player in the ESPN 150, including the No. 13 power forward. In college, as a freshman for Michigan State in 2008–09, Green appeared in 37 games off the Spartan bench as he averaged 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. During Michigan State's 2009 NCAA tournament run to the championship game, Green improved to average 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds, ranking fourth on the squad in scoring and second in rebounding while shooting a team-best .679 from the field in the tournament. As a sophomore in 2009–10, Green appeared in 37 games with three starting assignments as he averaged 9.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He became the first player in Michigan State history to be named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, winning the award by unanimous vote. He also earned third-team All-Big Ten honors and was the recipient of MSU's Most Improved Player, Chairman of the Boards and Antonio Smith Glue and Guts awards. As a junior in 2010–11, Green averaged 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. On February 10, 2011, Green followed Charlie Bell and Magic Johnson to be the third Michigan State men's basketball player to record a triple-double. In the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, he recorded his second triple-double of the season and the seventh in NCAA tournament history in the loss against UCLA. He went on to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year. As a senior in 2011–12, Green captained the Spartans to a regular season Big Ten championship and Big Ten tourn

Did You Know?

• Green is a nine-time All-Defensive Team member, per the source article.
• Green recorded his first career triple-double on February 10, 2011, against an unspecified opponent, per the source.
• Green ended his college career with 1,096 rebounds, the most in Michigan State history.
• Green was drafted 35th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors.