MSU Coach Tom Izzo Talks Former Spartan Draymond Green

Former Michigan State forward and four-time NBA champion Draymond Green is notorious for the drama he stirs up on the hardwood.

The Golden State Warriors power forward has been especially troublesome this NBA season. Green missed 12 games due to a suspension and has been ejected from four games.

Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo gave his thoughts on the former star player when he recently joined the "Pardon My Take" podcast.

"I talk to Steve Kerr and I talk to Bob Myers, the GM, and people like myself in a way, I mean, anybody that is more passionate, sometimes we do go over the edge a little bit," Izzo said. "But if you ask them would they want to trade him, I don't think they would ever want to trade him. He is one of the all-time -- I mean, I am the luckiest human being on the planet; I coached Mateen Cleaves and I coached Draymond Green.

"And I did not coach -- but he's from here, and he's still around a lot -- Magic Johnson. And there's a lot of great players, but I'm not sure there's as many great winners. Who can take average teams or good teams and be the difference in winning?

"A lot of people make great plays; how many people make winning plays? Like Draymond's toss back to Steph [Curry] and that illegal screen he kind of sometimes sets and moves a little bit, those are winning plays, and he didn't even take the shot. And I think that's what's not appreciated -- the toughness, the rebounding, that he can guard a LeBron [James] and he can guard a 7-footer."

Izzo did say he would sometimes like to see Green tone back the antics.

"He probably would wish once in a while I wouldn't be like I am, but would I trade him for the world? No. And by the way, I didn't keep him under wraps, I just -- that was back in the day when huddles weren't filmed, because he was still as crazy in those huddles, it's just that nobody got to see him back then.

"But I absolutely love him. He's a versatile player, he is -- you know those guys that say they don't care? The only thing he cared about was rebounding.

"And when he had nine, because he always wanted a double-double, he knew he had nine. And he would come to the bench and in the huddle, he would say, 'Not one of you guys grab the next rebound, I'm getting it. Just cut your guy out, I'm getting it. We're on a free throw situation, I'm getting it.'

"And I would sit there and say, 'Is that selfish?' Hell no, I loved it. I thought that was absolutely awesome.

"And that's Draymond. He puts winning above scoring, even rebounding, assists, more than I think any player I've ever coached."

"I'm not saying there's times I don't call him and say, 'Dray, what are we doing?' And once in a while, he will even agree with me. Not very often, but once in a while.

Izzo believes Green has been vital to the success of Golden State Warriors over the years.

"But I don't think, as good as Steph and Klay [Thompson] and all the other guys [are], I don't think they would have won the championships without him because he just does all the little dirty work that makes a difference in the end. And for that, I know one thing: If he had eligibility left, I would take him back."

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