An impressive preseason can only mean so much. But the Golden State Warriors have proven otherwise. After 5 games, the Bay Area side has surged ahead, claiming 4 victories. This impressive record places them third in the league, trailing only the undefeated OKC Thunder and then the Suns. And it’s not like they’re reliant on their star Stephen Curry; they have won 2 games without him. 

Apart from Steve Kerr’s unconventional 12-man rotation, there is another key factor for the Dubs. That is Draymond Green. In Curry’s absence, the floor general was the one who held the fort. Not just with his on-the-court performance, but as a leader as well. On Tuesday night, the short-handed Warriors dominated the Pelicans, despite a rough first quarter.

The two teams faced off again on Wednesday night for another matchup. At 34, Green has been busy these past two games solidifying his leadership, rallying his teammates with words on Tuesday and then backing it up with action on Wednesday. “The way he battled out there, but also the way he led, his energy, talking to the team at timeouts, at halftime,” coach Steve Kerr said.

“He was fantastic,” Kerr added. Well, not just Dray’s boss was happy, but his teammates have also been all praise for him. Brandin Podziemski, on the WillardAndDibs pod, when asked if Draymond Green was turning over a new leaf, responded with “100%. Definitely a big swing from last year to this year. [DG] has done a great job being a leader in practice, the locker room, during games.” The change is visible very clearly, not only to his teammates but also to fans.

During Tuesday’s Pelicans game at Chase Center, Green seemed to share a lighthearted exchange with a referee. In the viral social media clip, the Warriors veteran was seen chatting with the ref before giving him a friendly tap on the shoulder.

Podziemski highlighted this in his response as well, by adding, “To see how he handles the officials now, how that’s changed, has been super impressive and it’s led to the officials giving him more calls. He’s 4 out of 5 with his challenges this year. That’s pretty good!” In the previous season, Green had 10 technical fouls and was ejected 4 times. So far in this season he only has 1 technical foul.

On Tuesday, when the team was down by 20, it was Draymond Green who gave an inspiring speech during halftime and we saw what happened soon after. Podz talked about his motivation rubbing off on the youngsters, “It’s been impactful for our young guys to see what he brings to the table. What he provides for us on a daily basis from a motivational and skills standpoint, it’s incredible to see.”

Draymond Green eyes the Defense Player of the Year Award

Green put on a defensive clinic in the Warriors’ recent 104-89 victory over the Pelicans. Assigned to guard Pelicans’ Zion Williamson—who had racked up 31 points just the night before—Green limited him to only 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. Displaying his full range of defensive skills, the Warrior filled up his stat line with 14 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 5 blocks, and a steal, proving once again why he’s considered a defensive powerhouse.

Wednesday’s game served as yet another example of Draymond Green’s unmatched basketball IQ, resilience, and ability to guard any position. These attributes have cemented his reputation as one of the top defenders of his generation. His honors include the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year award and 4 All-Defensive First Team selections, most recently in 2021.

Although he’s been an All-Defensive Second Team-er for the past two seasons, Dray remains driven to reclaim a First Team spot and is serious about contending for another Defensive Player of the Year title. He wants to shine amongst the Wembys and Chets of today!

The Warriors are at their best with Draymond Green setting the tone on defense, and as he continues to strengthen his case for the season-end accolades, the hooper will be crucial for Golden State’s championship hopes. Should the franchise’s floor general maintain this high level of play, he could very well achieve that First Team selection and take home a second DPOY. What do you think?