In this episode of The Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green and Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) engage in a candid, conversational debate about the ranking and recognition of elite wing defenders in NBA history. They begin by each assessing where they would place themselves among the best wing defenders, with Metta citing a top‑7/10 range and Green asserting he is the best defender of his era. The dialogue quickly expands to a broader critique of how defensive players are often overlooked by media and fans, prompting Metta to lament the lack of "pub" for defenders and to champion the need for greater acknowledgment. They compare defensive skill sets across positions, highlighting legends such as Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Tony Allen, Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gobert, Avery Bradley, and Bill Russell, and discuss how each excels in different defensive roles (on‑ball, rim protection, versatility). Both emphasize that defensive impact—evidenced by championships, Game 7 performances, and the Golden State Warriors' scoring dominance despite weak defense—can be more decisive than scoring alone. The conversation also delves into how they evaluate defenders: studying film, analyzing on‑ball versus help defense, noting back‑action positioning, and recounting Metta’s rigorous personal training regimen of solo defensive slides. Throughout, they stress the purpose of the show: to spark a wider conversation, give credit where it’s due, and ensure that defensive greats receive the recognition they deserve.
Chapters
Where do you rank yourself at as far as wing defenders go? Like I know some great ones. Obviously I mentioned Stack Jack, who you two strong as hell. Tony Allen, where you rank yourself among those wing defenders?
Well, it's like, so when I was during my prime, I definitely thought I was the best. You know, I mean, I won a Defensive Player of the Year and I probably would've won more, I guess, you know, I can't argue about the one when I got suspended. I don't know what would've happened that year. The next year I got left in the end. I don't know what happened that year. But you know, with that being said, it's something I'm really happy about. I really love talking about it. You know what I'm saying?
Absolutely.
It's something only a few people could talk about. But as I look back at it and I was doing a lot of research, especially when you came out with your comments, I actually looked at a lot of different wing defenders. And I think Dennis Rodman's probably the best wing defender that we've seen. You gotta go watch his tape. And I was looking at it and I'm only familiar with him from the power forward position, but the way he guarded Jordan and Pippen, I was just like, "Oh wow, this guy might be a better wing defender than me." I've never thought he was a better wing defender than me. You know? But I gotta say, I mean, Reggie Miller thought I was probably the best. Besides myself saying I was the best, you know, a lot of media probably never gave me the credit 'cause, you know, they just wanna keep my name out their mouth. They don't wanna give credit where credit's due. Like for example—
Absolutely.
It was crazy. Like once, I mean, it's just so many times people left me off. I'm like, "Come on now." I'm not even gonna argue with that, but— With that being said, you know, I did hold people to zero a couple times in their prime, you know, which is really difficult to do. You know, I got a lot of DMPs, people not showing up to play. So I mean, I gotta put that all in the, you know, I gotta put that in my bank. But with that being said, I would say top 7, maybe something like that, top 10, top 7. There's a lot of people out there that's really good. And with you, when you came out with your comment, I mean, what was interesting, it happened quick, right? So it was a shock.
No.
But when you came outta it, I mean, you are so versatile. You should put yourself up there because if I did what you did, I for sure would've said I'm number one. I mean, you played the 5, you played the 3, you got championships to back it up. You know what I'm saying? Many people can say they're good, but you got championships and it's not like you was averaging 30, right?
Facts.
And you did have 35 in game 7 against the Cavs. So, you know, you can score. Yes, sir.
Right? That was a hell of a game.
I appreciate it. I remember that game. I was like, this boy, this guy can score too. So, you know, I mean, you should definitely put yourself up there. Obviously you got Rodman, you got Bill Russell. It's difficult to say you're number one, but you have got championships. So, you know, I think when it's all said and done, we should do something on ourselves. So many times the offensive player is getting the pub. And as a defensive player, I want some pub.
No, 100%.
How you feel about that? You know what I mean? I want some pub. So I feel we should do something on that. We should be talking about that. Like, who are the best wing defenders? Who are the best defenders? And really do something on it to bring light. Like, I spent all months of my career, before when I would practice, before I would pick up a ball, the first 45 minutes was running. By myself, nobody in the gym. That's what I was, I was in the gym sliding, doing all my defensive slides, like putting in that work. I wasn't just a good defender, I actually had to train for it. And with that being said, I take pride in that. You know what I'm saying? And I was happy when you came out with that. I was like, yes, like somebody's talking about defense.
For sure.
You know, finally. So I was like, I think I tweeted that, I don't know if you saw it, but I was like really appreciative of you coming out. For sure.
Absolutely. No, I, A part of the reason I did say that was I think people think I talk a lot, which I have my times where I talk, but I'm very calculated. And so when I say something, I've already played out how the response is gonna be, who's gonna say what. Obviously you don't know exactly what someone's gonna say, but like it's gonna cause this uproar. Like I'm already aware of that. And when I said it, do I really think I'm the best defender to ever play the game of basketball? Of course not. We all get in situations that may not be good for us as far as your weakness. Like—
What about your era? What do you feel about your era? Do you feel you—
I definitely feel like I'm the best defender in my era. Who compares to you? Who would you put close to you? Like a guy who I have a ton of respect for is Kawhi Leonard, right? Like I think Kawhi is an incredible defender, but Kawhi also doesn't guard the post. You know, like Kawhi is on the, he's on the perimeter, he's chasing guys around. You move the ball in front of him, one other way, utmost respect for Kawhi Leonard. Rudy Gobert is a good defender, but like for me, Rudy Gobert, he protects the rim. You know, like he's not guarding a wing on, you know, he's not switching onto a point guard. He's not switching onto a wing. If a point guard is getting off, his coach doesn't come to him and say, "Hey, you take Dame Lillard." You know, or, "Hey, you take Chris Paul, you starting the game on Chris Paul." And so, you know, those are definitely some guys that I respect, But you know, I respect Avery Bradley, who's a ball hawk, you know, like never got the credit he deserves. A ball hawk, impossible to screen. Like for myself as a screener, he's impossible to screen. And like, I respect that. And so I think it's something that, you know, when I speak up on defense and I continue to speak about it, because I, like you said, we deserve credit too. Like, all right, so you may, you may not be scoring the ball as much as Steph Curry, Right, but we all have an impact on the game, and I always speak on people don't talk about defense because you actually have to understand the game of basketball to speak on defense.
Yeah, for sure.
You know what I'm saying? Like, I can look at a guy and say, oh man, he was guarding such and such. When he was on him, he ripped him, or, um, you know, he was pressuring the ball. But I can also put that guy on the back action and watch him miss every tag that he's supposed to get on that big roll and down the lane. And then you can run and say, oh, he's a great defender because he was on the ball. No, he's not.
Right, right.
Because I can put him in a position that he mess up y'all entire defense.
Right, right.
And so when I said that, I was more so saying it from the standpoint, A, to spark a conversation. Let's get talking about these great defenders. 'Cause now when I say I'm the best defender, now we talking about Metta, now we talking about Ron Artest, now we talking about Scottie Pippen defense. Now we talking about Dennis Rodman. And let's make sure these flowers are being given to who they should be given to and not just someone who scored a basketball. And so that's how I always take it on the defensive end. And I speak on it because I don't think enough is said about it. And you, as you and I both know, if you don't have a defense, you can score as many points as you want. We watched it with the Warriors for years where they be right up there at the top of the scoring in the league.
Yeah.
And would be bottom 5 in the West.
Right.
Because they didn't have a defense. And so I always try to speak on that, number one, to start the conversation, but it's also to pay respect and get these names pumping of these guys who I respect on the defensive end that should be spoke about, yourself being one of them.
