Controversial NBA star Draymond Green rocked the boat with his own fan base by naming a surprising “Mount Rushmore” of the greatest Golden State Warriors ever. Green decided to make it extremely biased by picking the most important four names from the recent four NBA Championships between 2015 and 2022.
The following answer came from Green on the Post Moves podcast hosted by Candace Parker:
“That’s four people? That’s Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. I don’t think there’s any other way to slice that.”
Green completely removed any of the names before the dynasty core from having any chance at making the top four. Legends like Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, and Chris Mullin were snubbed due to Green wanting to show more love to his teammates. Most fans would agree with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson being obvious locks for their contributions.
Kerr and Green are considered the most controversial selections since many past Warriors had great tenures, even if they had less overall winning at the highest level. Barry and Mullin are the two biggest snubs as both had to be the best players, while Green could skate by without strong offense. Kerr is a confusing pick since coaches are rarely mentioned here.
Draymond Green Also Snubbed Kevin Durant
One name mentioned by fans as being snubbed was Kevin Durant after his incredible runs as the two-time NBA Champion. Green himself went out of his way to recruit Durant after Golden State lost the 2016 NBA Championship to the Cleveland Cavaliers during their 73-win season.
Durant was considered the best player on the team due to winning both Finals MVPs. However, Green felt he didn’t deserve to be mentioned with the other four since the Warriors won titles before and after his tenure.
Both sides have fans agreeing with them over the Durant Golden State tenure. It is a fair take to say that Durant deserves more credit for being the best player for half of their rings from this era. Unfortunately, Durant’s horrible failures after leaving the Warriors make it hard to value his Golden State impact in the same context. Green is right for not considering Durant, but his other picks warrant criticism.
Which Older Warriors Deserve Mount Rushmore Spots?
Chris Mullin is probably the biggest name snubbed by Green since he spent 13 seasons in Golden State and was the face of the franchise. Despite the 1990s Warriors failing to compete in the playoffs, Mullin led the team through dark times by keeping the fan base.
Rick Barry has a strong argument too since he was one of the best players in the league during his Golden State tenure. One major NBA Championship victory led by Barry was the most impressive accomplishment in franchise history until the Curry era.
Green does deserve credit for being honest and not trying to disrespect the other names by arguing against them. Teams like the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, and Memphis Grizzlies have fewer legends to make it easier to crack their all-time list. The Warriors have a deeper core of great names that could all have arguments for a Mount Rushmore.
Draymond Green Named Controversial Warriors Mount Rushmore