Draymond Green has reopened the debate about what matters more in an NBA career: winning a regular-season MVP or winning a championship as the team’s first option.

On The Draymond Green Show, the Golden State Warriors star discussed Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter’s views on the MVP and championship debate. He used Jalen Brunson and Derrick Rose as examples. Green highlighted Brunson’s role as the Knicks’ main player during their title run.

“Jalen Brunson just won a championship as a first option and what I'm certain of is all of you basketball people hold Jalen Brunson at this point right now in higher regard then you hold Derrick Rose...,” Green said.

Green shared this clip on his X, The Draymond Green Show, where Green used this comparison to show how much a championship can improve the image of a star player. Brunson led the Knicks as their main offensive player, making his title even more important to his legacy.

Green disagreed with the idea that an MVP should always be seen as the bigger individual achievement. He argued that Brunson’s recent championship has changed how fans see him compared with other NBA stars.

Green also made it clear that he still has a lot of respect for Rose. His point was not to criticize the former MVP. Instead, he wanted to show how winning a championship can change the way fans remember a player.

The comparison then took Green to another former MVP who also won a championship.

Draymond Green brings Dirk Nowitzki into the MVP vs. Championship debate 

Green then used Dirk Nowitzki as another example of a player who won both an MVP and a championship. He compared Nowitzki’s MVP season with his championship run.

Green also questioned which achievement means more to a player who has won both awards.

“I would love to know Dirk, who won 1 championship and 1 MVP; I would love to know which one he loves most cause one thing's for certain...,", said Green. People talk about Dirk's championship in 2011 far more than they talk about Dirk's MVP in '07.”

Nowitzki won the 2007 regular-season MVP after leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 67-15 record, as per an NBA article by John McKechnie.

Nowitzki won his first MVP in 2006-07, averaging 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He shot 50.2% overall and 41.6% from three-point range. However, his 2011 championship became a much bigger part of his career story. 

For Green, the way fans remember Nowitzki’s career supports his point. He believes championships can have a bigger and longer impact on a player’s legacy.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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