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Draymond Green Reacts to Shutting Down Kawhi Leonard

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Apr 16, 2026 2:25 AM ET

Draymond Green came out with a statement performance on Wednesday night for the Golden State Warriors.

The former Defensive Player of the Year was a key piece of the Warriors' dynasty that won four championships in eight years. However, criticism of Green has grown louder over the years as he enters the tail end of his decorated career.

Green proved on Wednesday that he is still one of the best defenders in the NBA. This is after he shut Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard down in the fourth quarter of their winner-take-all play-in showdown.

Thanks in part to Green’s heroics on the defensive end, the Warriors secured a season-saving 126-121 comeback victory at Intuit Dome on Wednesday night.

USA: Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23).© Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

After scoring 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the first three quarters, Leonard managed just two points in the final frame. Green’s lockdown defense limited the Clippers star to just two attempts, while also forcing Leonard to commit two crucial turnovers.

Leonard gave Green his flowers after the game, declaring the Warriors veteran a “Hall of Fame defender.” Green, on the other hand, had nothing but high praise for Leonard.

“Kawhi is one of the greatest in our league,” Green said, via Clippers reporter Joey Linn. “I wanted to try to limit the shots he gets. The thing about Kawhi, you think you got him stopped … but he can always raise up and get his shot.”

“… I got the utmost respect for Kawhi Leonard. … I appreciate playing against the all-time greats. Kawhi is one of the greatest our game has ever seen.”

Green also said that he does not “think there’s a player in our league who doesn’t respect Kawhi.”

Green finished Wednesday’s win with seven points, six rebounds, nine assists and four steals. However, what he did against Leonard, especially in the fourth quarter, goes way beyond the box score.

Leonard and the Clippers’ season is over. As for the Warriors, they will face the Phoenix Suns on Friday in another play-in game. The winner of that matchup will book a spot in the NBA playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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