PORTLAND, Ore -- Ever since he entered the league, Warriors forward Draymond Green simultaneously has been the NBA's biggest conundrum and one of its best players.
An undersized big man, Green doesn't necessarily look the part of an elite rebounder (which he is) or defender (which he is) or a player that can command a max salary slot in free agency next summer. But after an 18-point, 14-rebound, 11 assist closeout performance in Monday's 119-117 win over the Blazers in the Western Conference finals, Green is making a pretty good case for it.
However, walking out of Moda Center -- into his fifth straight NBA Finals appearance after his injury-riddled Warriors swept Portland -- Green wants to be recognized as something more when it's over.