NBA – Draymond Green cashes in on his duels with Wembanyama: “The worst thing about him is this!”

Publié le
Spurs (DR) / Warriors (DR)

Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif

Victor Wembanyama represents the future of the NBA, already establishing himself as one of the best players on the planet. With him, the Spurs could soon be back in the title race. Legendary defender Draymond Green spoke about his duels with the Frenchman.

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Whether you like him or not, whether you put up with his excesses or not, there’s no denying that Draymond Green is a legendary defender. His stats may never stand out, especially in a team that has seen the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson come and go, but without the inside man, the Warriors dynasty would never have enjoyed the same success.

Even more remarkable than pivots like Rudy Gobert and Dikembe Mutombo, who have received far more DPOY awards, Draymond is capable of having an influence outside the paint. He has the ability to read the game before anyone else and anticipate the movements of the forwards, which always gives him a head start in his rotations and assists.

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Draymond Green talks about his duels with Victor Wembanyama

But like everyone else, the four-time champion is getting on in years and is struggling to maintain the same level. In the series against the Timberwolves, for example, he was manhandled and eliminated by an immense Julius Randle. He also has to deal with a new generation that is increasingly talented. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, he spoke out about his clashes with Victor Wembanyama, including a viral photo.

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Forget the size difference with Victor Wembanyama, can you see how focused I am when I’m defending against him? And he’s standing up straight as if nothing had happened. And the worst thing is that in this photo, he certainly scored. That’s the problem with playing against this guy. After the game, you’re always going to hug your opponent. But with him, you’re right up against his chest.

Compared to the average person, Draymond Green is huge at 1.98m. Faced with Victor Wembanyama, on the other hand, he looks small. So he’s forced to give 200% on every defensive possession, with no guarantee of being able to stop the Spurs inside man. And the most humiliating part is when he finds himself hugging his chest after the game.