In a conversational interview on The Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green explains his personal list of the top five defenders in NBA history. He opens by acknowledging his respect for Bill Russell but admits he cannot rank him due to not having seen him play, highlighting the difficulty of all‑time comparisons across eras. He then names his selections: Gary Payton, Tony Allen, Ben Wallace, and Dennis Rodman, with a brief discussion of each player's defensive attributes. Green emphasizes that defensive greatness is not merely shot‑blocking (as with Wallace) but versatility and the ability to guard multiple positions. He also addresses Scottie Pippen, expressing personal frustration with recent controversies surrounding Pippen and ultimately deciding to leave him off the list. Throughout, Green stresses criteria such as matchup flexibility, impact beyond statistics, and personal observation, while also reflecting on how modern video availability shapes his perspective.
Who are your Draymond Green's top 5 defenders of all time?
My top 5 defenders of all time, Gary Payton. And by the way, when I start talking top 5 defenders of all times, I'm not naming Bill Russell and no disrespect to Bill Russell. We all have the utmost respect for Bill Russell, but I'm not old enough to see Bill Russell play. So I can only speak from like the very small sample size that I've had the opportunity to see. And so the all-time conversation, it, I hate it because how many people can really talk to you from a place of experience when talking all-time something? Like it's a very hard thing to do. So this is going to be more so from people that I've had the opportunity to witness play, whether I was younger, or, you know, currently today. But I didn't get to have the opportunity, which I wish I could have. I didn't have the opportunity to see Bill Russell play with the consistency that you need to see someone in order to put them on a list like my all-time defenders.
Yeah.
That's no disrespect to Bill Russell or anybody else of that time or a time that come from before me that I haven't really been privy to seeing a bunch of, like I've seen what mostly everyone has seen, but like, let's just face it. Back then the recordings and all of those things weren't where they are today. You know? So I can't say Bill Russell just to say it because I know Bill Russell was a great defender because I didn't see enough. Does not mean I doubt that Bill Russell would be top 5. I just personally can't say that. That would be very hypocritical of me to say that. In saying that, Gary Payton, Tony Allen, Ben Wallace. And as much as Ben Wallace was a shot blocker, Ben Wallace played during a time period where they was dumping the ball into the post. And I watched Ben Wallace guard Shaq. I watched Ben Wallace guard David Robinson. I watched Ben Wallace guard Tim Duncan. I watched Ben Wallace guard, I mean, the list goes on and on. Like that's during the time where bigs was like getting the ball and they was posting and like offense was ran through the bigs. Yeah.
And he was undersized doing so.
Absolutely. So I want people to understand it's not Ben Wallace because Ben Wallace blocked shots. Does not make you a great defender 'cause you block some shots. So Ben Wallace, yours truly.
I was wondering if you're gonna wait till the end or not.
And I wanna go with Scottie, but Scottie been pissing me off with all this stuff he's been doing lately.
All right, so is it Scottie or is it not Scottie?
Nah, I can't go with Scottie, man. Scottie, come on, Scottie. Like Scottie's a legend. Scottie a legend. Like, we don't need all that from Scottie. Like, you are a legend. MJ a legend. Like, man, we grew up on Scottie. So I'm a little upset with Scottie right now because Scottie is allowing people— Scottie allowing people to drag his name through the mud. And I don't like it. I don't like it at all.
It was a little unnecessary.
Like, Yeah, he's, I feel like he's allowing people to drag his name through the mud. And I don't like that one bit. 'Cause Scottie name shouldn't be dragged through any mud. But when you start comparing yourself to Michael Jordan.
You get left off Draymond's top 5 list. That's what happens.
I mean, it's just like, come on now. So I'm struggling with Scottie. Just because that's been bothersome. But another great defender, a guy who I, like, I think, guy's a great defender. My number 5 would be, this 5th one is important, so I'm taking my time.
I know, it's the last spot. It's okay, take your time. A lot of options, a lot of good ones out there. MJ, Rodman, Metta.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
KG. Absolutely. And you know what's crazy is each guy you've named has come across my mind. Each guy you just named. A lot of great guys out there. And I think for me, honestly, I have to go with Dennis Rodman. And the reason I have to go with Dennis Rodman is because Dennis Rodman can guard anyone. Like he could, like Dennis Rodman could match up with anybody. It's one thing to be able to guard anyone, but can you get matched up with anyone? And a lot of guys in this league, they can't be just matched up with anyone. Dennis Rodman matchup could be anyone. And I think that was incredible. I see some of that with myself sometimes, you know, sometimes you come out—
A bit?
And Dame is your matchup. Sometimes you come out and AD is your matchup. You know, it happens. So much love to Dame. I love Dennis Rodman. Ton of respect for Dennis Rodman. And just the way he guarded everybody, like, and rebounded. It's incredible.
