Tony Allen was not a fan of Draymond Green puffing his chest out this week.
Speaking on the “Dubs Talk” podcast, the Golden State Warriors star Green controversially declared himself to be the greatest defender in NBA history.
“I think I’m the best defender to ever play this game,” said Green, per NBC Sports Bay Area. “One hundred percent. That’s my opinion.”
Allen, the retired former Memphis Grizzlies star, scoffed at the claim. He referred to Green’s comments as “big cap,” which is slang for a lie.
Green promptly fired back at Allen, referring back to the 2014-15 season when “we used you against your team on the way to my first championship.” During that year, Golden State turned the tide of their second-round series against Allen’s Grizzlies by shifting Andrew Bogut onto Allen defensively and daring him to shoot by sagging way off.
Green is a former Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time All-Defensive selection with tremendous basketball IQ and multi-positional versatility on the defensive end. Allen, meanwhile, was a six-time All-Defensive selection who is widely revered as one of the peskiest one-on-one defenders ever. But many probably believe that neither of them is the greatest of all-time.
Some people would select a dynamic rim protector such as Bill Russell or Hakeem Olajuwon as the greatest defender in NBA history. Others would prefer a hyena guard such as Michael Jordan or Gary Payton. Still others might bestow the title upon a hulking Swiss Army knife such as Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman or Kevin Garnett.
No matter your pick, however, the back and forth between Green and Allen was certainly an entertaining one. After all, the two sides have been taking shots at each other for several years now.
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