SAN FRANCISCO — Quin Snyder endorsed Draymond Green for MVP consideration, and the appreciative Golden State Warriors forward agreed with the Utah Jazz coach about the way he impacts winning.
Green, who was cleared from the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will return to play against the Miami Heat on Monday night, knows his numbers don’t stack up against those of other MVP candidates. But he will compare the way he impacts winning against anyone in the league.
“I agree with [Snyder], and that is someone who sees the game for what it is,” said Green, who repeatedly expressed his respect for the Jazz coach. “Like his comments said, [Green] don’t go out and get the numbers — he just kind of does it in all ways. I don’t think it can be explained any better.
“I’m not going to go out and make an MVP case by stacking my numbers up against Steph Curry or Kevin Durant or Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. It’s not going to be that. But I think the way I impact the game, the things I do on the floor, the things that I do to impact winning, I think there is something to be said for that.”
Green entered Monday averaging 8.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks. But he is the anchor of the top-rated Warriors defense in points allowed and field goal percentage allowed. And alongside Curry, Green’s intangibles, such as his passing, rebounding, screening and leadership, have helped propel the Warriors to the best record in the league entering their game against Miami.
He was grateful for Snyder’s endorsement.
“I don’t think I have to qualify this by saying no disrespect to Steph or Rudy [Gobert], but Draymond Green is as unique a player and is having as good of a year,” Snyder said Saturday. “If you want to put someone in the MVP conversation, he’s someone to me that’s, maybe the numbers don’t match up to the numbers of some other guys put up, but as far as the way he impacts the game, whether it’s his passing, his defense, which, you obviously know how we feel about Rudy’s versatility and the things that he does and Draymond is like that. He just does it in his way.
“And then you add the leadership that he shows and the way he communicates, I just think he’s an unbelievable player and I think he’s showing that this year. He’s shown it before, but it stands out so much right now when you watch them play.”
