Draymond Green praises Alperen Şengün's skill and toughness, offers veteran advice on 'flopping'

In a frank discussion with former NBA star Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors stalwart Draymond Green didn't hold back when speaking about Houston Rockets' center Alperen Şengün. In the new episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, veteran star recognized Şengün's impressive abilities and fighting spirit. He acknowledges Şengün's skill and toughness, noting that he doesn't back down. Green mentioned that he gained a lot of respect for Şengün during the playoffs:

“Got a lot of recpect for him. You know, I've played against a lot of guys. I always tell people that in playoff series one of two things happen: Either you completely lose respect for someone or you gain a lot of respect for someone. Because you see who is really real when these playoff happens. You see a lot of people fade. You get to see who is really real. So Şengün is real. He ain't back down at all.”

However, alongside the praise, Green, known for his high basketball IQ and defensive prowess, also imparted some veteran wisdom. He specifically addressed Şengün's tendency to exaggerate contact, advising him to "flop and embellish less." Green elaborated that such tactics could be exploited by savvy defenders like himself, indicating he "would use that against him defensively.”

Despite the critique on embellishment, Green's overall assessment of Şengün was positive, emphasizing the Turkish center's youth and potential for growth. He also acknowledges that Şengün is still young, suggesting that there is ample time for him to refine his game. Green's comments provide a fascinating insight into how a seasoned champion views one of the league's most promising young big men, mixing plaudits for his current skill set with constructive criticism aimed at his long-term development.