Draymond Green (2022) - Hall of Fame - Michigan State University Athletics

Draymond Green

Induction:
2022
Class:
2012

Draymond Green
Men's Basketball (2008-12)
Saginaw, Mich.
MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022

HIGHLIGHTS:

2012 NABC Division I National Player of the Year
2012 Jesse Owens Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year
2012 Consensus First-Team All-American
2012 Big Ten Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament
Two-time All-Big Ten (2012 1^st team, 2011 3^rd team)
2010 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year
2012 Big Ten All-Defensive Team
Four-time NBA Champion with Golden State (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
Two-time Olympic Champion (2016, 2020)

HALL OF FAME FEATURE: CLASS OF 2022

Draymond Green has enjoyed an exceptional career since leaving Michigan State. It's been a career that's included NBA Championships, Olympic Gold Medals and individual accolades. He's already had his jersey retired by the Michigan State basketball program. But despite everything he's accomplished and all the recognition he's earned, the call from MSU athletic director Alan Haller informing Green he'd been selected for the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame still was a special moment.

"I had chills all the way down my arms," said Green, who learned of his honor just a few days after helping lead the Golden State Warriors to a fourth NBA title. "I couldn't believe it. I kept saying, 'wow.' I then called my wife Hazel who is also an MSU grad.

"To be mentioned with guys like Mateen Cleaves, Magic Johnson, Steve Smith, Bubba Smith and Kirk Gibson is absolutely mind-blowing to me. It's an incredible honor. Michigan State was my dream school since I was a child, but the Hall of Fame never even crossed my mind."

Green's senior season (2011-12) is one of the best in Michigan State history, with a remarkable list of accolades including National Player of the Year honors from the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), the Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year Award, Big Ten Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament, Consensus First-Team All-American and NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team selection. He is one of just four Spartans to ever earn National Player of the Year honors (Scott Skiles – 1986, Shawn Respert – 1995, Denzel Valentine – 2016).

The Saginaw, Michigan, native led the Spartans in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (10.6 rpg), steals (54), and 3-point field goals (52), while ranking second in assists (3.8 apg) and blocks (36). On the season, he led MSU in rebounding in 31 of 37 games, including 16 of the 18 Big Ten contests.

In addition to finishing his career as MSU's all-time leading rebounder (1,096), he currently ranks 19th in career scoring (1,517 points), seventh in career blocks (117), second in career steals (180) and tied for the career lead with 145 games played. Green is one of just three Spartans (Greg Kelser and Johnny Green) to record 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points in their careers. With three career triple-doubles, Green ranks second in MSU history behind only Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Despite all of his accomplishments, it's the relationships that stand out to him when he reflects on his time at MSU.

"When I think back to my time at MSU, the thing that comes to mind are the times with my teammates and the film sessions we had with Coach (Izzo)," said Green. "The summer workouts of us screaming and yelling 'we are going to the Final Four' and actually doing it. 5:30 a.m. lifts, grinding while everyone slept. Izzone Campouts. Games in the Bres. Football games at Spartan Stadium watching my brothers Bennie Fowler, Jerel Worthy, Denzel Drone, and the greats Kirk Cousins, Connor Cook and LeVeon Bell dominate the Big Ten year after year! Coach D leading them on the field and we are down there (on the field) while they run out the tunnel. Those were the great times, that made it all worth it. And wow, it led to the Hall of Fame!"

Green played a key role in MSU's back-to-back Final Four runs in 2009 and 2010. As a freshman in 2009, Green averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds off the bench in six NCAA Tournament games, ranking fourth on the squad in scoring and second in rebounding, shooting a team-best .679 from the field in the tournament, as the Spartans advanced to the National Championship game. One year later, Green was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 9.9 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the NCAA Tournament, including posting a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double vs. Tennessee in the Regional Final.

As a junior, Green averaged 12.6 points, ranking second on the squad, while leading the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and assists (4.1 apg), earning third-team All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season. He recorded two of his three triple-doubles during his junior season. It all set the stage for his standout senior campaign.

Although the Spartans started 0-2 in his senior season, and were unranked to open the season, MSU would reel off 15 straight wins to rise to No. 6 in the polls. The Spartans posted a 13-5 record in conference action to claim a share of a Big Ten regular-season championship. Green played at an exceptionally high level in conference action, averaging 16.7 points and 10.6 rebounds to earn Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten accolades. He ranked in the top 10 in the Big Ten in rebounding (1^st), steals (5^th), 3-point FG percentage (5^th), scoring (6^th), assists (t-8^th) and 3-point FG made (t-8^th). His dominance continued into the Big Ten Tournament where he earned Most Outstanding Player honors by averaging 15.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in MSU's run to the title. The tournament crown propelled the Spartans to the No. 1 seed in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16.

Always known as a player who cared more about winning than stats, Green captured Big Ten regular-season championships in three of his four seasons (2009, 2010, 2012), in addition to capturing the tournament crown in 2012. MSU made the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, including three Sweet 16 appearances and two trips to the Final Four.

The lessons of his time at Michigan State still influence him today.

"My mom taught me to be resilient," said Green. "Coach Izzo took the rope when I arrived on campus and taught me how to work. He guided me from a young boy into manhood, and what it meant to be a Spartan. I still carry that with me to this very day."

Green's outstanding success continued after he left MSU. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 35^th pick overall in the Second Round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He and the Warriors captured their fourth NBA Championship this past June. He is a four-time NBA All-Star and has made two All-NBA teams, including second-team honors in 2016 and third-team honors in 2017. He was voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and is a seven-time All-Defensive Team selection, including four first-team accolades. Green has also won two Olympic Gold Medals with USA Basketball in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2020 (Tokyo).