Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green & Jrue Holiday discuss being a lockdown defender🔒🔒 #nba #basketball #jrueholiday

27 Mar 2024 · 0 min

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In a brief interview, Draymond Green asks Jrue Holiday why he is sometimes labeled an overrated defender despite never finishing higher than seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Holiday replies that the respect he receives from fellow players and coaches—evidenced by opponents adjusting screens when he is guarding them—is the validation he values most. Green adds that Holiday commands as much peer respect as Steph Curry does for his shooting, underscoring the high esteem defenders can earn from those who directly face them.

Anytime someone talks about a defender being overrated in the NBA, I cannot recall ever seeing one person say another name outside of you. Yet you've never finished higher than 7th place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. What do you make of that?
The players in the NBA and a lot of the coaches in the NBA see how good of a defender I am, and that's all I need. Like I could see the respect when somebody, when my guy is going up to set a screen and they're like, "No, go to the next one." You know what I'm saying?
Like— Best feeling in the world. Bro, what? I'm like, "All right, respect." You have as much respect from your peers as a defender as Steph has as a shooter. And guys that you've guarded that know the game, that know what they're facing when they're up against you, it's the same. It's Jrue Holiday. No question.