The West played chess till the last, with all 15 teams locking horns in parallel for one last showdown! Reason? From the 3rd to 10th, no one’s ‘seat’ tickets were confirmed until the final whistle of the respective games. But there’s one who’s hungrier than the rest. But the final seeding for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Co. didn’t go as per their plans. A good run after the trade with hopes to direct playoff ticket slips as they move to the play-in after a neck-to-neck fight till the OT, finally falling to the Clippers 119-124! They will have to regroup again. But there’s something else too. With only one regular-season game remaining before this game and the playoffs right around the corner, the Warriors went all-in. And they have to. While today’s Clippers clash justifies Jimmy’s arrival once again, they have already begun strengthening their roster for the postseason. Their focal point? Defense.

Turns out, the Bay Area team has converted forward Braxton Key from a two-way contract to a standard NBA contract. That means he will be eligible to suit up in the playoffs. Well, the Warriors initially signed Key on a two-way contract last month and he has already played three games for them, averaging 1 point in limited minutes.

However, it’s Braxton’s performance in the G League that has truly impressed the Warriors’ front office. In his 49 appearances for the Santa Cruz Warriors and San Diego Clippers this season, the forward averaged 16.5 points and nearly nine rebounds. His defense? That was even more lethal, averaging 2.6 steals and over one block. Sure enough, Key bagged the G League Defensive Player of the Year honors. So, the Warriors now have another defensive weapon they can use in the postseason.

Of course, their primary defensive anchor is still Draymond Green, who is on track to become this year’s DPOY. It has been eight years since he won his maiden DPOY trophy. And his performance this season seems like a nostalgia trip. He is averaging 1.5 steals and over six rebounds. Even Draymond believes he deserves to add another trophy to his cabinet, as he made a bold remark on his podcast, “Oh man. I think put it in the bag. That’s what I think. Put it in the bag, yours truly. That’s who I’m rocking with.”

Sure, he gave other contenders their flowers, “Listen I think Evan Mobley has had a great year, Dyson Daniels has had a great year, I think you know Zubac has had a great year. I think all those guys have had a great year.” But Green picked himself over everyone else, “I ain’t taking nothing away from them and I see them on First team All-defense but I think DPOY should go to yours truly. I’ll take that.” Now, with Braxton by his side, Green can make his DPOY claim even stronger by bestowing his knowledge on the young forward.

Braxton Key sees himself in Draymond Green as Coach Kerr calls comparison “unfair”

Well, Braxton could be the perfect piece to take some defensive load off Green’s shoulders going forward. They have a similar frame and the ability to guard multiple positions. And Key even looks up to the former DPOY, as he revealed in a recent interview, “That’s a four-time champ, that’s a Defensive Player of the Year – that’s a lot. That’s big shoes to fill. I’m definitely watching him a lot. I see myself in him for sure. Just the way he plays, and then obviously the selflessness and what he does for the team. Defensively, he’s a beast.”

Apart from Draymond’s diverse skillset, Braxton loves his vocal leadership and how it impacts the team’s morale. And the Warriors would be hoping for Key to take on a similar role in the future. Santa Cruz coach Niholas Kerr, however, does not seem too fond of the comparison: “Maybe it’s unfair to Draymond to compare the two, because Draymond’s a four-time champion and future Hall of Famer – Braxton has some Draymond qualities.”

Of course, Green is far more experienced and accomplished than Braxton, who has only played a handful of games in the NBA. But he certainly has the potential to be the Warriors’ next defensive anchor once Draymond decides to hang up his boots. His first chance to prove it will likely come in the playoffs. Do you think Braxton’s signing boosts the Warriors’ title hopes?