Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23)
The Phoenix Suns are set to face the Golden State Warriors for the second time this 2025-26 NBA season on Thursday. The last time the two teams faced, the Warriors secured a 118-107 win. During that game, Draymond Green didn’t have one of the best scoring nights of his career. However, he still left an impact on the Golden State win.
Ahead of the contest, Suns coach Jordan Ott revealed his honest thoughts about Draymond Green. Ott and Green both started at Michigan State in the same year, 2008. In the four years that the defensive forward played for the college, the 40-year-old worked under Tom Izzo.
Having seen how Green’s basketball career started, Ott had nothing but positive things to say.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) — Source: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
“We also can never doubt his drive, his intelligence, his ability to fit in every scenario possible,” Ott said.
“You got to find a way to fit in, no matter what your role is. Provide value in whatever it is and continue to evolve. I think that’s what he’s done as a player, to the highest level possible.”
Green left the program in 2012 to pursue his NBA dreams. Ott, meanwhile, stayed for one more season before joining the Atlanta Hawks as a video coordinator.
The coach of the Suns went on to say that, despite not scoring as much as the other stars, Green still has a significant impact on how games turn out. Ott also said that any time that was spent with the four-time All-Star was “extremely valuable.”
Phoenix’s game against Golden State is the first of their back-to-back. Their second game against the Warriors will be on Saturday.