Draymond Green Quotes

I'm not going to worry about proving people wrong. My goal isn't to prove people wrong. You can't worry about what other people say.

- Draymond Green

Goal, Worry, Other, Proving

You see the guys sign the big contract, you see everybody on TV, but you don't see all the work that goes into that. It's a grind. And a lot of people don't see that grind.

- Draymond Green

Big, Everybody, TV, Contract

I may not be the most athletic, but I understand the game.

- Draymond Green

Game, May, Most, I May Not

You couldn't play if you weren't tough. You'd get bullied. Everybody who comes through the Civitan Recreation Center has to be tough. It's what we breed.

- Draymond Green

Play, Through, Everybody, Breed

There is no chip coming off of my shoulder because, at the end of the day, you're still going to continue to be doubted.

- Draymond Green

Still, Chip, Doubted, Shoulder

I've gotten to the point where I'm comfortable guarding any position on the floor. It just didn't happen overnight. It came with a lot of work, a lot of film study and everything.

- Draymond Green

Study, Happen, Gotten, Guarding

Wherever you go in Michigan, you find that toughness. I don't know if it's the weather or the hard times. It's like, if I can make it out of here, I had to be super tough.

- Draymond Green

Michigan, Here, Like, Wherever

Just because it's a break doesn't mean it has to be fast all the time. It can be a secondary break, but you've got to allow the defense to break down.

- Draymond Green

Break, Got, Allow, Secondary

Everyone wonders why I talk junk, but I was doomed from the beginning.

- Draymond Green

Beginning, Wonders, Everyone, Doomed

The goal is to win a championship. Every team enters the season with the goal to win the championship, but realistically, there are five or six teams with a realistic shot at winning a championship.

- Draymond Green

Goal, Six, Teams, Realistically

I know when I need to be pushing it full speed; I know when I got to probe and allow the flow to open up, because, at the end of the day, on the basketball court, something's going to open up.

- Draymond Green

Need, Going, Allow, Flow

I grew up in a household where my mom made $16,000 a year. I know the struggle. I know how to keep those things in perspective, and I do keep it into perspective.

- Draymond Green

Mom, Year, Made, Struggle

Every time you make a jump, whether it's from high school to college or college to the NBA, you're going to hear questions about your athletic ability.

- Draymond Green

College, Questions, Going, Every Time

Every year, I strive to be the best defensive player in the league.

- Draymond Green

Strive, Year, League, Defensive

One thing I've always been taught at the defensive end is you hit first. In life, you throw the first punch; you don't get punched first. It's the same on defense: You've got to hit first. Do your work early. That's what I was always taught. If you don't do your work early, you're done.

- Draymond Green

Been, Got, Your, Defensive

In the NBA, there's always a guy who is only around because he can jump. He doesn't have a clue about the fundamentals. I learn more from the WNBA. They know how to dribble, how to pivot, how to use the shot fake.

- Draymond Green

Fundamentals, Use, About, WNBA

I've never been a guy who has said 'OK' about stuff. That's not me. That's not my personality. If I think something's wrong, I express that.

- Draymond Green

Think, Been, I Think, OK

Four-men aren't used to picking up guys pushing the ball in transition. Let alone, somebody getting the rebound and just busting.

- Draymond Green

Used, Picking, Pushing, Transition

I'm blessed, and... all the time, I sit and think, 'Wow.'

- Draymond Green

Time, Blessed, Think, Wow

I think Coach Kerr and his staff have done a great job with what they bring to the table.

- Draymond Green

Think, Bring, I Think, Table

I watch basketball all day every day. So when I'm watching the games, I watch it - I just enjoy watching basketball - but when I'm watching other people play, I'm really just watching as a student trying to figure different things out.

- Draymond Green

Play, Student, Other, Different Things

I tell guys all the time, you see me messing up, get at me. I want you to get at me.

- Draymond Green

Want, Tell, Messing, I Want You

I have friends in prison. I send them money. I send them food. They say, 'Bro, get me out of here.' There's nothing I can do. They're five years in on a 20-year sentence. They went in at 16, they'll get out at 36. That's a lifetime.

- Draymond Green

Here, Lifetime, Years, Send

Playing point guard is someone's instincts. They're used to that. That's my instincts.

- Draymond Green

Someone, Playing, Guard, Instincts

When you're 250 pounds, you can push more people around, but you can't move as fast or jump as high.

- Draymond Green

More, Move, More People, Push

There's the Draymond Green you see out on the floor. But that's not me. I mean, it is, but there's more. People see the fiery guy, the competitive guy, the trash talk and everything. But they don't see the love and compassion. They don't see the person. They don't see the real me, who values his friends and puts people first.

- Draymond Green

Love, Values, Fiery, Trash

A guy who's not a champion can't talk too much about championships, can he?

- Draymond Green

Championships, About, Too, Champion

Become a good all-around human being.

- Draymond Green

Good, Human Being, Being, All-Around

I know what hard times are like. I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I've had struggles.

- Draymond Green

Grow, Like, Had, Struggles

If you put junk into your body, your body is going to give you junk results.

- Draymond Green

Give, Going, Your, Junk

I think it's cool to read that Draymond Green is transcending the NBA. I also think it's cool to read that Draymond Green is terrible.

- Draymond Green

Think, I Think, Read, Terrible

I will not feel like I've made it until the day I retire from basketball because there's something that I can always get better at, and there's always somebody better, and that's what drives me.

- Draymond Green

Will, Always, Like, Retire

If you've got to second-guess talking to a teammate, what you have will never work.

- Draymond Green

Never, Will, Teammate, Second-Guess

Think about the deflections. The offense can't score every play. They're just trying to get a good shot. If I can deflect a pass, even if it doesn't cause a turnover, it will throw their timing off half-a-second. That half-a-second might mess up their shot.

- Draymond Green

Play, Offense, About, Turnover

My uncle, my dad always made sure I had guard skills. But as far as defending everybody, that wasn't really my mindset until my rookie year.

- Draymond Green

Mindset, Always, Everybody, As Far As

I was a great help-side defender in college, but as far as really wanting to lock somebody up, that was never really my focus.

- Draymond Green

Focus, College, Wanting, As Far As

What's my status? I'm just a guy from Saginaw, Michigan, trying to make it. But you know, pretty nice crib.

- Draymond Green

Michigan, Pretty, Crib, Status

I have the mindset of a mid-level guy or a minimum guy. My path here wasn't expected: my path wasn't that I was going to the NBA and making $16 million a year. So I identify more with those guys, and I want to be a voice for them. I want to help them elevate their status in the league. That's my goal.

- Draymond Green

Voice, Year, Here, Status

So many times, I watch games and think, 'Man, why is that guy trying to score like that? He can't do it.' But he's been told his whole life, 'You have to go get 40 if you want to be one of the top dogs.' It's my goal to build a lane where you can be a top dog, and you don't gotta go get that 40. You can go get four and still be a top dog.

- Draymond Green

Why, Guy, Been, Lane

That's one of my strengths, that I can adjust, and I can play with anyone.

- Draymond Green

Play, Strengths, Anyone, Adjust

You don't contest shots without expending energy. You don't get deflections - unless you walk into one every now and then - without expending energy. These are the things in basketball you have to really want to do.

- Draymond Green

Want, Contest, Then, Now And Then

I just go out and play my game. Just making sure I keep doing those little things, like playing with toughness, that's just me.

- Draymond Green

Little Things, Game, Play, Toughness

My mom. Growing up with her, she always taught us to say whatever. Like, 'You think something, say it. Don't bite your tongue for people.' I think there's a fine line with that, but at the same time, I'm a firm believer in speaking your mind.

- Draymond Green

Tongue, Line, I Think, Fine Line

My whole life, I've guarded guys bigger than me.

- Draymond Green

Bigger, Guys, Than, Guarded

The fans at Quicken Loans Arena are pretty hostile. They say nasty things.

- Draymond Green

Pretty, Things, Hostile, Loans

I can throw all the good passes I want, but if they don't make shots, it's not an assist.

- Draymond Green

Good, Want, I Can, Assist

I always loved playing basketball. That was never a problem for me. You want to go to the park or the gym, I'll play with you all day, but working out, I didn't love. I hated it.

- Draymond Green

Love, Play, Always, Hated

I'm not as athletic as some guys, so I have to counter that with a tremendous brain that thinks the game.

- Draymond Green

Game, Some, Guys, Athletic

I'm a huge fan of basketball. Any time you get a chance to watch basketball, I do it.

- Draymond Green

Chance, Basketball, Fan, Huge Fan

When I came out in the draft, people kept asking me, 'So are you a small forward or a power forward?' and I was like, 'I'm a basketball player.' Period.

- Draymond Green

Small, Asking, Period, Player

It just doesn't go with my story to be a first round pick, because I had to grind my whole life.

- Draymond Green

Go, Had, Whole, Grind

I refuse to be outworked, and I consider myself to have the heart of a lion.

- Draymond Green

Myself, Refuse, Consider, Lion

All 'potential' means to me is that you haven't proved anything.

- Draymond Green

Me, Means, Proved, Potential

My fire is my gift and my curse. I harness it 95% of the time, but the 5% I don't, it works against me.

- Draymond Green

Gift, Against, Works, Harness

There are certain guys in the league that get their rhythm off their dribble.

- Draymond Green

Get, League, Dribble, Guys

Bogut - I wouldn't be the defender I am without Bogut. He taught me a ton. Angles. How to guard the post. You name it, he taught me a ton.

- Draymond Green

Angles, Guard, Am, Post

A person who can go out and get 40 is going to get a lot more respect than somebody who goes out and holds somebody to two points. It's just the nature of the game. It doesn't bother me.

- Draymond Green

Game, Going, Bother, Holds

My heart is bigger than most guys who have size over me.

- Draymond Green

Bigger, Over, Most, Size

There's still nothing like a home-cooked meal. Absolutely not.

- Draymond Green

Meal, Like, Still, Absolutely Not

I think when you look around this league, so much is scripted. And not scripted in a sense that the league is scripted, but when guys talk, it's like, 'Say this. Yeah, come out and say that.' Like, nah, I'm not doing that. I'm going to say what's on my mind. I'm going to say what's on my heart. It's just genuine speaking.

- Draymond Green

Doing, I Think, Yeah, Genuine

A guy that's going to do all of the dirty work, that guy that is willing to defend anyone and do the little things and not really care about all of that other stuff. I think every championship team needs that.

- Draymond Green

Other, I Think, Willing, Championship Team

Every decision I make is, 'How is this helping me become a billionaire?'

- Draymond Green

Decision, How, Helping, Billionaire

I can see things before they happen on the court.

- Draymond Green

See, Happen, Before, Court

I don't really mind any scrutiny. It doesn't bother me. I'm going to still live my life and do everything I do the same way and not lose any sleep.

- Draymond Green

Mind, My Life, Still, Scrutiny

Sometimes it's tougher against bad teams because you can't really get a read on them.

- Draymond Green

Bad, Teams, Read, Tougher

You've just got to earn my respect.

- Draymond Green

You, Just, Got, Earn

I've been pretty broke my entire life. I'm not going to live that same life, but I'm going to keep those same principles.

- Draymond Green

Pretty, Broke, Been, Principles

Everything can't be sweet. Everything can't be peaches and cream.

- Draymond Green

Sweet, Everything, Cream, Peaches

At the end of the day, before basketball, before anything, I'm a man.

- Draymond Green

End, End Of The Day, Before, Basketball

I love playing basketball. And to be able to continue to play as a job, that's the best to me.

- Draymond Green

Love, Play, I Love, Basketball

I had a great time at Michigan State, but no four years will compare to Saginaw High.

- Draymond Green

Will, Great Time, Compare, Michigan

Michigan State means so much to my life and me.

- Draymond Green

Me, My Life, Means, Michigan

People will always try to change you. They will always want you to be who they want you to be. That's fine because I'll always be exactly who I want to be.

- Draymond Green

Change, Will, Always, Exactly

You learn from adversity more than anything because it allows you to see so much. It really allows you to see things in a different way.

- Draymond Green

Adversity, Learn, More, Different Way

No matter what, no matter how I feel, always bring effort.

- Draymond Green

How, Always, Bring, Effort

I think complacency is what you allow it to be.

- Draymond Green

Think, I Think, Allow, Complacency

I'm trying to make the Hall of Fame.

- Draymond Green

Trying, Hall, Make, Fame

I wouldn't necessarily say I'm arrogant. I'm just confident.

- Draymond Green

Confident, Say, Arrogant, Necessarily

At the end of the day, I continue to think I can get better, and that's always my focus.

- Draymond Green

Focus, Think, Always, Continue

When the ball isn't in my hands, I'm already scanning for where the next pass is going.

- Draymond Green

Hands, Next, Pass, Ball

I'm blessed. I get to play the game I love for a living and make a lot of money doing it.

- Draymond Green

Love, Game, Play, Blessed

Be remembered for the right things.

- Draymond Green

Right, Things, Right Things, Remembered

I see the game differently than some guys. I'm always reading the next move.

- Draymond Green

Next, Some, Always, Differently

If you're not getting better, you're getting worse.

- Draymond Green

Better, Worse, Getting, Getting Better

It's the way of life in Saginaw. If you're not tough, you don't survive.

- Draymond Green

Life, Tough, Way, Survive

I'm going to be more critical of myself than anyone could ever be.

- Draymond Green

More, Going, Ever, Critical

Let me get my money's worth if I'm going to get some techs.

- Draymond Green

Money, Some, Going, Worth

After a game, I really just relax with the family.

- Draymond Green

Family, Game, After, Relax

I know what I'm capable of, and I try to go out and prove that.

- Draymond Green

Know, Go, Prove, Capable

The more time you spend with somebody, the more your relationship grows.

- Draymond Green

Time, More, Spend, Grows

I put my heart into this. Like, winning to me is, I make it life or death.

- Draymond Green

Death, Me, Like, Winning

I was always taught, even as a kid, playing against grown men, you get better.

- Draymond Green

Kid, Always, Against, Grown

I'm human, and I make mistakes.

- Draymond Green

Human, Make, Mistakes

I can't worry about techs. I've got to play my game.

- Draymond Green

Game, Play, About, Worry

I have a great smile. A lot of people don't know that.

- Draymond Green

Great, Know, Lot, Smile

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