Warriors' Steve Kerr Heaps Praise on Draymond Green: 'Best Defender I've Ever Seen'

The Golden State Warriors faced the daunting task of going against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday without their star in Stephen Curry.

So Draymond Green responded as the defensive star that he is and led the team to a 104-93 victory.

"He's the best defender I've ever seen," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said, per Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. "I mean, you see the pick-and-roll with Dame. If he's in it, he kind of does this fake blitz thing with his speed, with his anticipation. He forces Dame back out towards halfcourt and he's able to get back. The speed and recovery with Draymond is just stunning. 

"And then the brain that goes with it. If he's on the weak side, he's constantly coming over to help. He's one of the great defenders of all time, and he's still doing it at a high level."

That is particularly high praise coming from Kerr, who has been around the game for decades as a player and coach. He was even teammates with notable star defenders such as Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan, among others, during that playing career.

But it didn't stop Kerr from calling Green the best he's ever seen on that end of the floor.

The eight-time All-Defensive selection had just three points against Milwaukee but dominated in other ways with 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. He guarded Antetokounmpo at times and made a number of momentum-swinging plays on the defensive side.

"I think you have to respect the hell out of what he does, and it's so hard to do," teammate Jimmy Butler, who is also known for his defensive prowess, said. "To shoot the ball, I don't know, four times maybe, if that, and then just lock in on defense every possession down and get mad when anybody scores—not just the guy he's guarding—you don't find that around the league too often. 

"He has won at this level. He is a Hall of Famer for a reason. I just respect what he brings to this squad, what he brings to this locker room and how he affects winning in every single way."

Green is an eight-time All-Defensive selection and is widely considered one of the best players on that end in his generation. Yet he has just one Defensive Player of the Year award during his illustrious career.

Perhaps he will get a second this season, as he looked more than worthy of it against Milwaukee.

Kerr certainly believes he deserves it.