Former NBA forward claims that Draymond Green does not rank among the league’s top 200 players

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has established himself as one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a key part of the franchise’s success over the past decade.

Green has played a major role in the Warriors’ dynastic run, which saw them win four NBA championships, and there is little doubt that the forward will eventually find his name enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Despite his many accomplishments, former NBA forward Kenyon Martin does not hold Green in high regard. In a recent appearance on the Gil’s Arena podcast, Martin made a controversial claim.

“I can list 200 people that’s better than Draymond Green at basketball right now, championships aside. We are talking about going out and playing basketball. I’m not taking anything from him. He did what he did, absolutely. I’m with it. I ain’t ever said nothing bad about Draymond Green, but I just want to know if he is a better basketball player than players like Al Jefferson and Elton Brand,” Martin said.

In addition to winning four NBA championships, Green has earned numerous individual accolades, including:

• 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 
• Five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, 
• 2017 NBA Steals Leader, 
• And four NBA All-Star selections. 

Martin’s comments are unlikely to sit well with Green or his supporters, especially considering Green’s consistent performance for the Warriors. Entering his 14th season, the 35-year-old remains a vital part of Steve Kerr’s system. He continued to play solid defense last season and shows no signs of slowing down.

Kenyon Martin and Nick Young got into a spicy debate about Draymond Green’s impact on basketball 😅

(via Gils Arena) pic.twitter.com/CxTs66Mowl

— Designated Report (@DesignatedRpt) July 16, 2025

Green also hosts a weekly podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” where he discusses the basketball world with various guests, including current and former NBA players. In one episode, a fan asked him to name his top five defenders of all time—and Green didn’t hesitate to put himself at the top.

“What you should understand about me is that I think I’m No. 1 on that list. Top five to go in order? I’m not a fan of those. But who I would regard as top five? I would definitely put myself on that list,” Green said.

He added that all-time greats like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain wouldn’t make his personal top five—not because they weren’t great, but because he hadn’t seen enough of their games to judge them by the “eye test.”

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