Lacob recalls Draymond’s ‘maniacally competitive’ pre-draft workout originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
There aren’t many NBA players who play as hard and as physically as Draymond Green. And that was obvious to the Warriors from day one.
The veteran forward is a four-time champion and future Hall of Famer, and after 12 seasons in the league, he plays with the same enthusiasm he did coming out of Michigan State.
Warriors Assistant General Manager Kirk Lacob sat down with KRON 4’s Jason Dumas for an exclusive interviewwhere he discussed Golden State’s pre-draft scouting process and explained why, after all these years, Green’s pre-draft workout with the Warriors in 2012 is still the most impressive he witnessed during his time at organization.
“I’ll tell you the most memorable draft workout we’ve had since I’ve been here, about 14 years, was Draymond Green,” Lacob told Dumas. “We will still never forget it.
“We already loved Draymond. He was, as I like to say, from the Isle of Misfit Toys. It’s like everyone knew he was really good, but we weren’t sure how he would fit in. But we knew he was a great football player. basketball. And we came here and he destroyed everyone. And what was clear was that his competitiveness was very high.
Green was so imposing on the court that Lacob and the Warriors were surprised by what they watched.
“It’s hard to describe without you realizing it, but there’s a difference between seeing someone be competitive and someone being maniacally competitive, trying to destroy everyone in every practice for an hour straight,” Lacob explained. “I’ve never really seen anything like it.
“It was really fun to watch. It got to the point where the other five guys kind of wanted to give up. At the time, you think ‘Maybe these guys aren’t that competitive.’ But you’re like, ‘Man, this guy is just a killer.'”
Green’s competitive fire and physicality are key traits that make him the special player he is. There’s no off switch, and while his style of play has resulted in ejections and suspensions over the years, that’s a price the Warriors are willing to pay.
And if you ask Lacob or anyone in the organization, there’s no doubt it was worth it. And some more.
