Green — only 6foot6 — ‘pretty damn good’
Draymond Green doesn’t care if fans know he’s shorter than the 6foot7 height listed on the Warriors’ roster since he was drafted seven years ago.
“Why does that even matter?” Green said before Thursday night’s exhibition game against Minnesota. “I actually used to care, because it did matter when I got drafted and stuff. But I don’t even care now. I don’t care if the whole world knows I’m 64.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, at this point. Actually, I’m not 64, but you get my gist. They’re not going to redraft me or anything like that. I’ve shown what I can do with the height I have. Who cares now?”
For the first time, NBA teams must submit accurate heights to the league for every player within the first week of training camp, and the precise heights must be measured without shoes. Green posted an Instagram video Wednesday night, showing him being measured without shoes — and checking in at exactly 78 inches, or 6foot6.
Green, one of many NBA players previously listed with more favorable measurements, joked about the new league mandate. Head coach Steve Kerr even got in on the fun after Wednesday’s practice.
“I sort of laughed about it,” Kerr said. “I’ve talked to Draymond every day for five years. They keep introducing him at 67, and it looks like he’s 2 inches taller than me. I’m 62½. This has been going on forever. Every player wants to be taller.
“It doesn’t matter. If a guy can play, he can play. I don’t care how tall Draymond is. He’s pretty damn good.”
Green has averaged nearly a doubledouble in the postseason during his career (12.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game) and has been among the league’s top defensive players for the past halfdecade.
Green, who was measured at 65¾ at the 2012 NBA Combine, has three championship rings, three AllStar Game appearances, five AllDefensive selections and was the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
On top of his innate intensity and basketball IQ, Green’s secrets are measurements unlisted on the roster.
Green has a 71¼ wingspan and an 810 standing reach.
“I have very long arms, so it works out,” he said.
This seems like an appropriate time for Green’s height to come into question, as it parallels the question marks surrounding the Warriors’ fall from being oddson championship favorites to merely postseason hopefuls.
After five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, including last season during which the Warriors had a roster stocked with six potential Hall of Famers, Green and Stephen Curry are the only healthy stars remaining in the lineup.
Kevin Durant was sent to Brooklyn in a signandtrade move, DeMarcus Cousins left in free agency, Andre Iguodala was dealt to Memphis, and Klay Thompson probably will be out until after the AllStar break as he recovers from ACL surgery. So many of the same people who doubt Green are also counting out these Warriors.
But the hypercompetitive Green is not about to lower his expectations for his team, even one dotted with developmental players.
“It’s definitely a different vibe. Everything is just different,” he said. “But as far as lowering expectations, you’re still an NBA player. These guys are still NBA players. We’re still an NBA team. As a competitor and leader, I don’t think you lower your expectations. That’s kind of what a loser does.
“I think you just have a better understanding and a longer leash. You can’t just snap on a guy. You have to teach. I think it’s more that approach . ...
“You’re taking it more day by day and growing day by day, as opposed to managing day by day. But, as a competitor, I don’t think you lower your expectations. Still shoot for the skies.”