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Draymond Green is probably the most important player for Golden State and not named Steph Curry. He may not fill the stat sheet every time he plays, but his impact on the Warrior’s defense and how the offense operates with him on the floor is unmatched. His almost telepathic connection with Curry makes the Warrior’s ball movement even more dangerous.

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Kyle Kuzma, who has been tweeting about the NBA Playoffs, made a comment on Draymond. And NBA fans have not taken the comment well. Below mentioned are some of the fan reactions –

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Draymond -The player who has overachieved

Draymond was a second-round pick in the 2012 draft by the Warriors. His defensive skills and basketball IQ were one of the major reasons GSW could tinker with their line-ups while establishing their dynasty. Green, who often plays significant minutes for the Warriors as an undersized center, was one of the first in an emerging trend in the NBA of versatile frontcourt players capable of playing and defending multiple positions.

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Draymond was also the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016-17 and he also led the league in steals that year. Additionally, he is a four time NBA-All Star and six times All-Defensive team member. Recently, he joined LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and Larry Bird as the only players in postseason history with 200 steals and 10 triple-doubles.

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Under appreciated by stats?

Draymond has also been sometimes compared to Dennis Rodman. Rodman, though not an elite scorer, was a fundamental piece for the Chicago Bulls second three -peat in 1996-1998. Draymond’s value to Warriors couldn’t have been more clear this season. When he was injured, GSW’s defense went from being a top 5 unit to a middle of the pack unit. Not only that, the way he facilitates the ball in offense also helps them improve the quality of the three-point shot which they attempt.

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USA Today via Reuters

The defense which he is currently playing on Nikola Jokic in their first series match-up will not show up in stats. But it’s importance is paramount as he has made the reigning MVP work for his points. Some things are just not quantifiable, Draymond’s importance to the Warriors is one of them.

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Written by

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Nirjhar Sharma

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Nirjhar Sharma is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a sports enthusiast who follows all major sports and has been watching the NBA for the past 7 years now. A firm believer in the 'Greek Freak' being the best player in the league right now, he believes that the Bucks are primed for another championship run unless the injury bug bites them. A Business Economics graduate from the University of Delhi, Nirjhar eventually dreams of working with a sports franchise either in India or abroad in a management role. He is also a die-hard MS Dhoni and Roger Federer fan and is of the opinion that Josh Allen is currently the best QB in the NFL.

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Ajinkya Aswale

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