Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Is Wembanyama’s Game 1 Historic? Draymond Green Ranks Wemby Among Top 5 Playoff Performances

21 May 2026 · 1 min

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In this commentary, Draymond Green evaluates Victor Wembanyama’s Game 1 performance, arguing that it belongs in the top five playoff performances ever. He sets the scene: the team is playing on the road against the defending champions, and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander (referred to as “Shea”) is attempting to secure an MVP‑award‑night win. Green explains how Wembanyama’s defensive presence forces Shai to alter his usual shot selection—some shots are abandoned, others are taken with reduced effectiveness—demonstrating a tangible impact on the opponent’s offense. Green then ranks this performance alongside four other historic playoff moments: Klay Thompson’s Game 6 in Oklahoma City, LeBron James’s Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons, Stephen Curry’s Game 4 in Boston, and Kawhi Leonard’s Game 5 versus the Philadelphia 76ers that sparked the Toronto Raptors’ first championship run. The overall message is that Wembanyama’s debut playoff showing is a landmark defensive display worthy of elite company.

Chapters

— a top 5 playoff performance you've ever seen. It has to be up there because you have to put in context what's actually happened. This team just went on the road versus the defending champions. The night Shea Gildress-Alexander was presented his MVP award, he did everything he had to do to make sure they won that game. Including defensively, Shea Gildress-Alexander struggled. When Shea gets to going downhill, you can't recover and try to cut him off. You have to ride the hip. And almost let him go. Well, them letting him go, he's running into Victor Wembiyama. So some of the shots that Shay normally takes, he didn't even take. Some of the shots he normally make, he took and short-armed them. That's the presence of Victor Wembiyama. And so when you talk about top 5 playoff performances, this has to be up there. Another one that comes to mind is Klay Thompson game 6 in OKC. Has to be up there. LeBron James game 5 versus the Detroit Pistons. Steph Curry game 4 in Boston. And the 5th one, I will go with Kawhi Leonard versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Ultimately started the road to Toronto Raptors' first and only NBA championship, so I gotta go with that one.