The 35th Pick in 2012: Where Draymond’s Underdog Rise Began

June 2012, the draft in New York. When Draymond Green's name was read at 35th overall (5th in the second round), almost nobody thought this Michigan State forward would go far. The scouting report read: 6-foot-7 playing inside is short, athleticism flat, jumper shaky.

But Green's college résumé was not ordinary. Under Tom Izzo he was Michigan State's emotional leader; as a senior he took the team to the Final Four on defense, rebounding and court sense beyond his age. Izzo later said: "He is among the smartest players I ever coached."

Golden State picked him precisely for that "basketball brain." The Warriors were still pre-peak Curry; management bet this sophomore's IQ could fill the defensive gap. His rookie year averaged just 2.9 points, mostly on the bench end.

The turn came in 2014-15. Coach Steve Kerr pushed the "small-ball revolution," moving Green to starting center alongside Curry, Thompson, Iguodala and Barnes in the "Death Lineup." Green's switching, playmaking and rim protection were unlocked; that season he won a title.

From pick 35 to a championship starter took three years. The rest is history: three more rings, a DPOY, an FMVP. The overlooked second-rounder became the best footnote to "system over talent" in modern basketball.

Related Reading

• 2017 Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond’s Defensive Art
• 2022 Finals FMVP: The Coronation of the System Axis
• A Tribute to Draymond Green: The Draymond Legend Continues
• The Warriors System and the Death Lineup: Why Green Is the Pivot
• Hard Work and Leadership: Draymond’s Practice Philosophy