Draymond Green facts for kids
Green in 2022
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| No. 23 – Golden State Warriors | |||||||||||||||||
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| Power forward | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 4, 1990 Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. |
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| High school | Saginaw (Saginaw, Michigan) | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| College | Michigan State (2008–2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2012 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35th overall | ||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2012–present | ||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| 2012–present | Golden State Warriors | ||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Draymond Jamal Green (born March 4, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Draymond mainly plays as a power forward.
He has won four NBA championships and has been an NBA All-Star four times. He also has two Olympic gold medals. Many people think he is one of the best defensive players ever. He has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team nine times. In 2017, he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the league in steals that same year.
Draymond grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. He helped his college team reach the Final Four twice. In 2012, they won the Big Ten tournament championship. During his college years, he received many awards. He was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore. As a senior, he was a consensus All-American and NABC National Player of the Year.
The Golden State Warriors picked him 35th overall in the 2012 NBA draft. He became a very important player for the Warriors. He helped them win championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Draymond is known for being a versatile player. He can play and defend different positions on the court. He is also known for his passing, steals, shot-blocking, and rebounding. He is a strong leader for his team.
Contents
High School Basketball Years
Draymond Green went to Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Michigan. He played basketball there for coach Lou Dawkins. In his junior year (2006–07), he averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds per game. He led Saginaw to win the Class A State Championship. His team had a great record of 26 wins and 1 loss.
On November 14, 2007, Draymond decided to play college basketball for Michigan State. He also thought about playing for Michigan or Kentucky.
In his senior year (2007–08), Draymond averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds. He helped Saginaw High win another Class A State Championship. This was their second championship in a row. His team finished with a 27–1 record.
College Basketball Journey
First Year at Michigan State
Draymond started playing for Michigan State in 2008–09. As a freshman, he played in 37 games. He averaged 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. In the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, he played even better. He averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Second Year: Big Ten Sixth Man
In his second year (2009–10), Draymond played in 37 games. He averaged 9.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He was the first player in Michigan State history to be named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. This award is for the best player who usually comes off the bench. He also earned third-team All-Big Ten honors.
Third Year: Triple-Double Star
As a junior (2010–11), Draymond averaged 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. On February 10, 2011, he made history. He became the third Michigan State player to get a triple-double. A triple-double means getting 10 or more in three different stats (like points, rebounds, and assists). He got another triple-double in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Senior Year: Player of the Year
In his senior year (2011–12), Draymond was a team captain. He led the Spartans to win the regular season Big Ten championship. They also won the Big Ten tournament championship. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
On March 5, 2012, Draymond was named Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. This is a big award for the best player in the conference. He also became Michigan State's all-time second-leading rebounder.
On March 16, 2012, Draymond got his third career triple-double. He joined Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only players with two career triple-doubles in the NCAA tournament. He finished his college career as Michigan State's all-time leading rebounder. He was one of only three players in Michigan State history with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He earned a degree in communication studies.
Professional Basketball Career
Joining the Golden State Warriors (2012–2014)
The Golden State Warriors picked Draymond Green in the 2012 NBA draft. He was the 35th player chosen. He signed a contract with the Warriors on July 30, 2012.
At first, Draymond didn't play much. But as the season went on, he got more playing time. This was especially true when other players got injured. On December 12, he made the winning shot with less than a second left. This helped the Warriors beat the Miami Heat, who were the champions at the time.
In the 2013 playoffs, Draymond helped the Warriors win their first-round series. He showed improvement in his three-point shooting and defense. The Warriors made it to the second round but lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
Draymond worked hard in the 2013 off-season and lost 20 pounds. He improved his shooting and defense even more. He played in all 82 games in the 2013–14 season. He was praised for his tough defense in the playoffs that year.
First NBA Championship (2014–2015)
The 2014–15 season was a big year for Draymond. He became a starter at power forward because of an injury to another player. He helped the Warriors go on a 16-game winning streak. During this time, he averaged 13.3 points per game. On December 6, he scored a career-high 31 points against the Chicago Bulls.
On January 2, 2015, Draymond got his first career triple-double. He had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. He finished second for both the Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player awards. He ended the season by winning his first NBA championship. He also got a triple-double in Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals, which clinched the championship. He was only the sixth player in NBA history to do this.
Becoming an All-Star (2015–2016)
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On July 9, 2015, Draymond signed a new contract with the Warriors. He helped the team start the season with a 10–0 record. On November 24, the Warriors set a new record for the best start in NBA history at 16–0. Draymond recorded his third and fourth career triple-doubles in back-to-back games. He was the first Warriors player to do this since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.
On December 11, Draymond achieved a rare feat. He recorded five or more in all five major statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He had 24 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks. This helped the Warriors extend their winning streak to 24–0.
On January 4, 2016, Draymond became the second Warriors player ever to get three straight triple-doubles. Later that month, he was chosen as an All-Star for the first time. He finished the season with 13 triple-doubles, which was a team record. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive Team.
In the 2016 playoffs, Draymond continued to play well. He had his second career postseason triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Warriors made it to the 2016 NBA Finals but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. Draymond was suspended for Game 5 of the Finals due to a foul.
Second NBA Championship and Defensive Player of the Year (2016–2017)
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Draymond started the 2016–17 season strong. He had a season-best game with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists on December 1. He recorded his 15th career triple-double on December 13. He was named an All-Star again on January 26, 2017.
On February 10, 2017, Draymond made NBA history. He recorded a triple-double with 10 steals, which was a Warriors record. This was the first time in NBA history a player had a triple-double with fewer than 10 points scored. He also became the first player since 1973–74 to have 10 steals and five blocks in a game.
The Warriors finished the regular season with an amazing 67–15 record. They entered the playoffs as the top team. Draymond helped the Warriors sweep their first two playoff series. He recorded his third career postseason triple-double against the Utah Jazz. The Warriors also swept the San Antonio Spurs to reach the NBA Finals for the third year in a row. They became the first team in NBA history to go 12–0 in the playoffs.
Draymond helped the Warriors win their second championship in three years. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals. After the season, Draymond was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He was the first Warriors player to ever win this award.
Third NBA Championship (2017–2018)
In the 2017–18 season, Draymond continued to be a key player. On December 25, 2017, he got his 20th career triple-double. This tied the Warriors' franchise record. Four days later, he set a career high with 16 assists. On January 4, 2018, he recorded his 21st triple-double. This made him the Warriors' all-time leader in triple-doubles.
Draymond helped the Warriors defeat the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. He had a playoff career-high 19 rebounds in Game 5. In the second round, he recorded his fourth career postseason triple-double against the New Orleans Pelicans. He passed Tom Gola for the most playoff triple-doubles in Warriors history.
The Warriors made it to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season. Draymond helped them sweep the Cavaliers to win back-to-back championships. In Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, he passed Wilt Chamberlain for the most rebounds in Warriors playoff history.
Fifth Straight NBA Finals (2018–2019)
Draymond had some injuries during the 2018–19 season. He missed several games due to a sprained toe. However, he returned to play and continued to contribute.
In the 2019 playoffs, Draymond was outstanding. He recorded his fifth career playoff triple-double in the first round. In the second round, he had another triple-double against the Houston Rockets. He set a career high with his seventh straight playoff game with at least 10 rebounds. He had his seventh career postseason triple-double in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
Draymond helped the Warriors sweep the Portland Trail Blazers to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth year in a row. He had another triple-double in Game 4. In Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals, he got his ninth playoff triple-double. The Warriors lost the series to the Toronto Raptors in six games. Draymond finished the postseason with six triple-doubles. This tied him with Magic Johnson for the second-most in a single postseason.
On August 3, 2019, Draymond signed a new four-year contract with the Warriors.
Recent Seasons (2019–Present)
In the 2019–20 season, Draymond tied his career-high with 16 assists in a game. In the 2020–21 season, he missed some time due to illness and a foot injury. On February 26, 2021, he had a career-high 19 assists in a game. On May 3, he recorded his 29th career triple-double, passing Michael Jordan on the all-time list.
On December 20, 2021, Draymond recorded his 31st career triple-double. He was named an All-Star for the fourth time on February 3, 2022. He missed 31 games with a back injury but was still selected to his seventh NBA All-Defensive Team. The Warriors reached the 2022 NBA Finals and won their fourth championship by defeating the Boston Celtics. In Game 6 of the Finals, Draymond had a great all-around game to help close out the series.
In October 2022, Draymond had an incident with his teammate Jordan Poole during practice. He publicly apologized for his actions. In March 2023, he was suspended for one game for getting too many technical fouls. In April, he was suspended for one playoff game for stepping on an opponent. The Warriors were eliminated from the playoffs that year. Draymond signed a new four-year contract with the Warriors in July 2023.
In November 2023, Draymond was involved in another incident during a game. He was suspended for five games for his actions. In December 2023, he was suspended indefinitely after hitting an opponent in the face. He was reinstated on January 6, 2024, after missing 12 games.
On March 7, 2024, Draymond recorded his 32nd career triple-double. On April 12, he had a double-double with 12 rebounds and 11 assists without taking any shots. This was a first in NBA history. On April 1, 2025, he posted his 33rd career triple-double. He also won the NBA Hustle Award for the 2024–25 season. This award recognizes players who make effort plays not always seen in stats.
Playing for Team USA
Draymond Green has played for the United States national team. In 2011, he played in the Summer Universiade tournament in China.
In June 2016, Draymond was chosen for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. He helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He was also selected for the 2020 Olympic team for the Tokyo Olympics, which happened in 2021. He helped Team USA win another gold medal there.
Draymond Green's Playing Style
Draymond Green is known for being a very versatile defender. Even though he is not the tallest power forward, he can guard all five positions on the court. He studies how opponents play and uses his strength to get rebounds, steals, and blocks. He has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award and has been named to many NBA All-Defensive Teams.
On offense, he is great at handling the ball and passing to his teammates for scores. He can shoot three-pointers, which helps create space for his team's offense. He is also good at scoring close to the basket. His strong defense and offensive skills make him a unique player.
Under coach Steve Kerr, Draymond became very important to the Warriors' "Death Lineup". In this lineup, he often played as a center. This created problems for opposing teams because he could defend bigger players. On offense, he could outrun and out-pass most other centers. Many experts believe his playing style shows how the center position in the NBA is changing.
Draymond also became a main playmaker for his team. In the 2015–16 season, he doubled his assists average. He led the team with 7.4 assists per game. His ball handling and passing skills helped the Warriors improve a lot. He is often called the "heart and soul" of the Warriors. He is known for his loud and motivating leadership on the court and in the locker room.
Because of his intense playing style, Draymond sometimes gets into trouble. He often gets technical fouls and is ejected from games. As of March 2024, he has the second-most career ejections in NBA history. His past actions have led to suspensions from the league. For example, in November 2023, he was suspended for five games. In December 2023, he was suspended indefinitely for hitting an opponent. The NBA said his history of actions played a role in these suspensions.
Awards and Achievements
- 4× NBA champion: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
- 4× NBA All-Star: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
- 2× All-NBA selection:
- Second team: 2015
- Third team: 2016
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2017
- 9× NBA All-Defensive selection:
- 5× First team: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2025
- 4× Second team: 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
- NBA Hustle Award: 2025
- NBA steals leader: 2017
- Only NBA player to record a triple-double with fewer than 10 points scored
Career Statistics
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Golden State | 79 | 1 | 13.4 | .327 | .209 | .818 | 3.3 | .7 | .5 | .3 | 2.9 |
| 2013–14 | Golden State | 82 | 12 | 21.9 | .407 | .333 | .667 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | .9 | 6.2 |
| 2014–15† | Golden State | 79 | 79 | 31.5 | .443 | .337 | .660 | 8.2 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 11.7 |
| 2015–16 | Golden State | 81 | 81 | 34.7 | .490 | .388 | .696 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 14.0 |
| 2016–17† | Golden State | 76 | 76 | 32.5 | .418 | .308 | .709 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 2.0* | 1.4 | 10.2 |
| 2017–18† | Golden State | 70 | 70 | 32.7 | .454 | .301 | .775 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 11.0 |
| 2018–19 | Golden State | 66 | 66 | 31.3 | .445 | .285 | .692 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 7.4 |
| 2019–20 | Golden State | 43 | 43 | 28.4 | .389 | .279 | .759 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 1.4 | .8 | 8.0 |
| 2020–21 | Golden State | 63 | 63 | 31.5 | .447 | .270 | .795 | 7.1 | 8.9 | 1.7 | .8 | 7.0 |
| 2021–22† | Golden State | 46 | 44 | 28.9 | .525 | .296 | .659 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 7.5 |
| 2022–23 | Golden State | 73 | 73 | 31.5 | .527 | .305 | .713 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 1.0 | .8 | 8.5 |
| 2023–24 | Golden State | 55 | 52 | 27.1 | .497 | .395 | .730 | 7.2 | 6.0 | 1.0 | .9 | 8.6 |
| 2024–25 | Golden State | 68 | 66 | 29.2 | .424 | .325 | .687 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 9.0 |
| Career | 881 | 726 | 28.7 | .449 | .320 | .710 | 6.9 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 8.7 | |
| All-Star | 3 | 0 | 15.6 | .375 | .000 | .750 | 5.7 | 2.7 | 2.0 | .7 | 3.0 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Golden State | 12 | 1 | 18.6 | .429 | .391 | .765 | 4.3 | 1.6 | .5 | .8 | 5.8 |
| 2014 | Golden State | 7 | 4 | 32.6 | .467 | .276 | .792 | 8.3 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 11.9 |
| 2015† | Golden State | 21 | 21 | 37.3 | .417 | .264 | .736 | 10.1 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 13.7 |
| 2016 | Golden State | 23 | 23 | 38.2 | .431 | .365 | .738 | 9.9 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 15.4 |
| 2017† | Golden State | 17 | 17 | 34.9 | .447 | .410 | .687 | 9.1 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 13.1 |
| 2018† | Golden State | 21 | 21 | 39.0 | .432 | .266 | .796 | 10.6 | 8.1 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 10.8 |
| 2019 | Golden State | 22 | 22 | 38.7 | .498 | .228 | .718 | 10.1 | 8.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 13.3 |
| 2022† | Golden State | 22 | 22 | 32.0 | .479 | .205 | .638 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
| 2023 | Golden State | 12 | 9 | 30.6 | .462 | .250 | .727 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 9.4 |
| 2025 | Golden State | 12 | 12 | 32.4 | .389 | .267 | .692 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 1.4 | .9 | 9.1 |
| Career | 169 | 152 | 34.5 | .445 | .300 | .726 | 8.6 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 11.4 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Michigan State | 37 | 0 | 11.4 | .556 | .000 | .615 | 3.3 | .8 | .6 | .2 | 3.3 |
| 2009–10 | Michigan State | 37 | 3 | 25.5 | .525 | .125 | .672 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 1.2 | .9 | 9.9 |
| 2010–11 | Michigan State | 34 | 27 | 30.1 | .426 | .366 | .683 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 12.6 |
| 2011–12 | Michigan State | 37 | 36 | 33.2 | .449 | .388 | .723 | 10.6 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .9 | 16.2 |
| Career | 145 | 66 | 25.0 | .467 | .361 | .687 | 7.6 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .8 | 10.5 | |
Beyond the Court
Draymond Green started his own podcast called The Draymond Green Show in November 2021. In January 2022, he signed a deal to work as a basketball analyst and contributor for Turner Sports. This means he appears on shows like Inside the NBA.
Draymond is the son of Mary Babers and Wallace Davis. His stepfather is Raymond Green. He has two brothers, Torrian Harris and Braylon Green, and three sisters, LaToya Babers, Jordan Davis, and Gabby Davis. His brother Torrian played college basketball.
Draymond earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Michigan State University in 2012. In September 2015, he made a large donation of $3.1 million to Michigan State University. This was the biggest gift from an athlete in the school's history. It helped build a new sports facility and fund scholarships.
See also
In Spanish: Draymond Green para niños
- List of NBA career triple-double leaders
- List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders
- List of NBA career playoff assists leaders
- List of NBA career playoff steals leaders
- List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders
- List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
- List of NBA career playoff triple-double leaders
- List of people banned or suspended by the NBA
