One elimination game. One 126-121 comeback. The game made the Warriors coach make a bold claim, and he had no trouble naming the best defender he has ever seen.

The Golden State Warriors clashed with the Los Angeles Clippers in a Play-In game. The Warriors registered a thrilling 126-121 comeback win on April 16, 2026. Stephen Curry led the offense, but scoring points was not the only story of the night. 

Kerr did not hold back when talking about Draymond Green. He placed him above everyone else he has ever watched.

“He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life, For one night, we're us. We're champions again… It’s a Play-In game. I don't care" Kerr stated. 

Green was up for the tough task of guarding Kawhi Leonard. Leonard went scoreless for the first 11 minutes of the 4th quarter. Green grabbed 2 critical steals from Leonard in the final minute. His final score read 7 points on 3-of-5 shooting.

He added 6 defensive rebounds, 9 assists, 3 turnovers, and 2 fouls. He also snagged a season-high 4 steals. 

The appreciation came directly from the player Green guarded all night. Leonard called Green a “Hall of Fame defender” after the game.

Leonard admitted it was hard to even get shots up. Curry also praised Green, calling Green's impact “special” in the win. 

And those words weren't just random; the numbers tell the whole story.

How Draymond Green's defense carried the Warriors all season

Green maintained a strong defensive presence throughout the 68 games he played in this season.

He averaged 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game. The team held a defensive rating of around 114.6 to 115 when he was on the floor. 

The Warriors improved by about 2.4 points on defense with him playing. They went from a 119.0 rating off the court to 116.6 on the court. 

On October 28, he held Leonard to a 0-for-9 shooting night. The Clippers scored a season-low 79 points in that Warriors win. On November 12, Green took on rising star Victor Wembanyama.

He limited the young big man to 4-for-12 shooting and forced five turnovers. The Spurs shot just 5-for-16 when Green was the primary defender. 

Back on March 20, 2025, the coach praised his veteran. “The speed and recovery with Draymond is just stunning,” Kerr said. “He’s one of the great defenders of all time, and he’s still doing it at a high level.”

Curry shares a similar mindset about his teammate. The star point guard said he wants Green on his side in a 7-game series. 

Do you agree with the coach that Green is the best defender he has ever seen? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Gupta