Steve Kerr can give hard truths straight to your face and credit where it’s due. Kerr, when he had finally reached the end of the rope, did say he was tired of Draymond Green and his antics. But since his return from the indefinite suspension, Green has been a model citizen. Almost.

Ahead of their final game before the All-Star break, Coach Kerr talked to reporters pre-game. And he only had good things to say about his explosive guard. “I think Draymond is the best all-around defender in the league. I think he’s a genius defensively… his awareness, and communication, as well.”

Kerr wouldn’t be wrong in his praise of the 33-year-old. Whatever his shortcomings are, with Dray on the court, the Warriors have been a top-10 defense. And if we are looking at his resume, Green has the DPOY award to speak on his behalf. Although the award does provide one a sense of pride, it doesn’t necessarily mean those without it are, in essence, bad defenders.

The best example would be Anthony Davis. But that’s a subject for another day. Going back to Green, despite everything he put the Dubs through, everyone on the team values him for what he brings to the floor; at least the traits that give them an advantage over their opponents. Draymond’s ability to rally his teammates – in a word, the role of the floor general – is the one key aspect that the team suffered in his absence.

Draymond Green Enticed Warriors’ Into Making a Desperate Trade for LeBron James

But with him back, there have been significant changes in Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga. A major trade asset, Wiggins has, of late, been playing excellent basketball. And the pairing of Kuminga and Wiggs, which before the return of Green was doing more damage than good, has also ramped up.

The same, though, can’t be said of another cornerstone player of the Golden State Warriors – Klay Thompson.

Thompson saw a reduced role faster than he would have probably liked

In tonight’s Jazz vs Warriors game, Klay was designated to come off the bench. While Kerr has been vocal about doing the needful to ensure team victory, this is the first in 12 years that Thompson is coming off the bench. Although the 4x champion did admit to being open to a reduced role in the foreseeable future, even he wouldn’t have seen this coming.

Yet, the Warriors aren’t exactly in a situation to play favorites. When Steve Kerr decided to leave the 5x All-Star on the bench instead of letting him close the game, the 34-year-old was not too happy. But taking a look at it from a team perspective, it seems Thompson understood the need for change.

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Watch This Story: Draymond Green Drops 187 Ranks Lower After Suffering More Than $10,000 in NBA Fines