Is Denzel Valentine Set to be the Next Draymond Green?
By Jake Barajas
Denzel Valentine was given some high praise from fellow Michigan State alum Draymond Green. Green said of Valentine, “He’s the guard version of me.” How accurate is the comparison between the two former Spartans?
There are many reasons as to why comparisons are being made between Denzel Valentine and Draymond Green. For starters, both guys went to Michigan State, both saw a tremendous amount of growth as upperclassmen, and both dominated the college game with an all-around playing style. The similarities run even deep than that.
Neither of these guys are uber-athletic, nor do they possess breakaway speed. Not to worry, though, because both of them make up for it with hard work and hustle.
Moreover, there are questions as to what position will be the best fit for Valentine in the NBA. Green is no stranger to that sort of speculation. During the draft process, scouts weren’t sure whether Green would be playing power forward or small forward at the next level. For Valentine, it’ll be deciding between shooting guard and small forward.
Green thinks all of the talk about positions is overblown:
“Is he a 1 or a 2? He’s a basketball player. Put him at the 1, 2, or 3, he’s going to get it done. He’s going to make plays. He’s going to score the basketball. He can defend. He works his ass off.”
Even with all of the similarities, the most important areas of Draymond Green’s game are where the two differ so greatly.
The part where the resemblance between the two begins to fall apart is on the defensive end. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Draymond Green is defense. What makes Green so valuable is his ability to guard multiple positions and do it at an elite level. He is the single most important defender to his team in the entire NBA, and the most vital player in what was the league’s most unstoppable lineup. Golden State can’t play small ball to the degree which they do without Draymond Green.
There is some hope that Denzel Valentine will be able to guard multiple positions, but how well is he going to hold up against front court players? Valentine is 6’5″, 220 pounds. By comparison, Draymond Green is only 6’7″, 230 pounds.That doesn’t seem like much of a difference.
However, it’s clear that their is a stark contrast physique between Green and Valentine. Green flexes after every “and-one” and for good reason. He has such a powerful lower half which allows him to hold up against behemoths in the post. And his 7’1″ wingspan gives him the unique ability to protect the rim at his height.
Yes, Valentine was described as “the guard version” of Green and that doesn’t mean he has to be a stopper in the paint. But, a big part of what makes Draymond Green a star in the NBA is his versatility. If he wants to keep the comparisons alive at the next level, Valentine is going to have to play and guard multiple positions. Nobody is expecting Valentine to guard centers by any stretch of the imagination. On the other hand, it’s going to be interesting to see how he holds up against opposing power forwards. If Doug McDermott can play some power forward, there’s no reason Valentine can’t.
Although, there might not be any minutes for Valentine at power forward. Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic will be logging the bulk of the minutes at the four, and McDermott should get time there as well. That doesn’t leave much time, if any, at power forward for the Bulls rookie.
Denzel Valentine is not Draymond Green, but that shouldn’t be a surprise.
Draymond Green’s skill set is one the least reputable in the entire league. He’s one of the most effective rim protectors in the NBA.
“He’s a basketball player. Put him at the 1, 2, or 3, he’s going to get it done.” -Draymond Green on Denzel Valentine
He can play center. He’s a terrific rebounder. He guards all five positions effectively. He can knock down threes. He’s the most important, and perhaps best, defensive player in the league.
Oh yeah, and he’s one heck of a distributor. How many other guys can be described in the same way?
Just because Denzel Valentine might not be Draymond Green doesn’t mean he’s not going to be an effective player. He certainly has a chance to excel in his own unique way. At the college level, he showed an ability to do everything, but it remains to be seen how well that will translate to the NBA. Just like Draymond Green, Valentine will have to overcome his limited athleticism with a relentless work ethic.
Green is so unique and it’s going to be quite a long time before another Draymond Green comes along. Let’s not instantly compare these guys because of their college playing styles and a few parallels between the journey each of them took the league.