Mike Dunleavy Sr. Praises Draymond Green’s Defensive Brilliance
Former NBA player and coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. recently shared his thoughts on Golden State Warriors’ forward Draymond Green, applauding his exceptional defensive skills and leadership. The 11-year NBA veteran, who transitioned into coaching and executive roles before stepping away from basketball, appeared on Run It Back with co-hosts Lou Williams, Michelle Beadle, and Chandler Parsons.
During the segment, Dunleavy Sr. praised Green’s unique impact on the game:
“When you look at the guy [Draymond Green], the first thing that comes to mind is ‘glue’. Stuff that Draymond does doesn’t necessarily even show in the stats…. His passing ability, his defensive ability, he might be the greatest closeout [defender] guy of all-time. He can switch pick and roll to a small or cover a guy all the way out to the corner or block shots and get things done and not get beat as good as anybody.”
Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year, continues to showcase his versatility at age 34. This season, he’s averaged 8.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game—all while mentoring teammate Jonathan Kuminga, who has taken over the power forward role in some lineups.
Kobe Bryant’s Legacy: Dunleavy Sr. Reflects on MJ and the “Black Mamba”
In another segment, Dunleavy Sr. reminisced about his time on the court with Michael Jordan. He lauded Jordan’s unparalleled competitive drive but admitted that the late Kobe Bryant came closest to matching it.
“Michael is Michael—obviously, in my mind, the best player to ever play. Other than Michael, maybe Kobe…as far as competitors, workers…I don’t know how they did it. 5 AM in the morning, they’re up. From a work ethic standpoint, they were top of the list,” he said.
Bryant famously modeled his game after Jordan and was often referred to as MJ’s “little brother.” Their bond was well-documented, with Jordan speaking emotionally at Bryant’s memorial, sharing how the “Black Mamba” inspired him daily.
