Few players around the league have played as many important games as Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors defensive star has contributed to four NBA Championships and many more deep playoff runs over the past decade. Green also has a history of talking trash and refusing to give respect to other players until they earn it.
Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward received unexpected huge praise from Green with an incredible comparison. The former Defensive Player of the Year claimed that he sees a lot of Kawhi Leonard in Coward so far. Any rookie would be thrilled for a legend to compare them to a multiple time NBA Champion and Finals MVP.
“He uses his size well, can defend up, can defend down,” Green said about Coward. “I really think and obviously Kawhi worked his ass off to become Kawhi . Cedric has to put the work in but if he does put the work, he 1,000 percent could be like Kawhi Leonard. No questions asked.” Memphis has a chance to develop a special talent.
Why Draymond Green Loves Cedric Coward
The Grizzlies selected Coward with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Coward’s impressive early play is certainly making him look like one of the best steals in the draft so far. Averages of 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds see the 22-year-old contributing to a team struggling during a difficult time this season.
Green claimed Coward is already showing traits that Leonard didn’t adopt until a few seasons into his career:
“He’s already a really good defender. At this age right now, he’s a better shooter than Kawhi was. [He’s] not quite as athletic as Kawhi was, but I think Cedric Coward’s player comp is a healthy Kawhi Leonard.”
The belief of Draymond is that Coward shows enough promise to praise and has the potential to keep getting better. Most young players need three or four seasons to establish themselves in the league. Coward’s evolution can see him becoming one of the best two-way players in the league if he progresses in the way Green expects him to.
Draymond Green Rarely Praises Memphis Grizzlies
The short-lived rivalry between the Grizzlies and Warriors led to Green rarely praising the opposing players. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been criticized for years by Green for his reputation as a top defender. Draymond felt Jackson didn’t deserve his past Defensive Player of the Year Award due to constant foul trouble limiting his minutes.
Former Grizzlies enforcer Dillon Brooks had a lot of moments involving Green clowning him for speaking too loudly on behalf of a team that didn’t win anything of note in the playoffs. Ja Morant is the only Memphis player to consistently get respect and public praise from Draymond in recent years.
Coward has changed that and received arguably the best compliment Green has ever given to a young player. The Grizzlies potentially trading Morant in the future as their situation grows worse does provide more optimism with Coward moving forward. A future Hall of Fame saying Coward has the chance to be an All-Star is a great thing for Memphis.
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