Draymond Green has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s most vocal and confrontational players, with several incidents leading to ejections or suspensions that left Golden State without him.

However, Gilbert Arenas believes the forward’s contributions far outweigh his mistakes. The 3-time NBA All-Star has explained why Golden State continues to stand by Green.

Gilbert Arenas Explains Why Warriors Continue to Back Draymond Green Despite His ‘Mishaps’

Speaking about Green, Arenas pointed to the things he does that casual viewers often miss. He argued that understanding Green’s value requires watching the entire game rather than simply following the ball.

“During the course of a game, he’s doing a hundred times more good than he will be doing bad,” Arenas said in a video on “TheArenasNetwork.”

Arenas explained that Green regularly stops opponents’ actions through his positioning and defensive awareness.

“If we break down Draymond’s defense, I can show you plays where he stopped the person or play, and you don’t even know he did it. That’s why when he does have his mishaps, you don’t care,” the former NBA player added.

Arenas also highlighted how much Steve Kerr values those details, given his understanding of the game and his appreciation for the importance of team execution.

There is a strong case behind that argument. Green has won four NBA championships with Golden State, earned four All-Star selections, and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. He has also made nine All-Defensive teams, showing how consistently he has been recognized for his work on that end of the floor.

Green also won the NBA’s 2024-25 Hustle Award, becoming the first player to finish among the top 40 in all nine hustle categories used to determine the winner. His screening also creates opportunities for teammates, particularly Stephen Curry, even when Green does not receive an assist.

However, the mistakes Arenas is defending are also very real. Green’s latest example came against the Phoenix Suns on November 2. After throwing Suns center Khaman Maluach to the floor, he got into a confrontation with Dillon Brooks. Green received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game.

That was not an isolated incident. In 2023, he received a five-game suspension for putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock. He was later suspended indefinitely after striking Jusuf Nurkic in the face.

Green also missed a playoff game in 2023 after stepping on Domantas Sabonis, while his 2016 NBA Finals suspension came after he accumulated too many flagrant foul points.

His actions have also affected the Warriors internally. Green punched teammate Jordan Poole during a 2022 practice, an incident that resulted in a team fine and a period away from the squad. Golden State eventually traded Poole the following offseason.

Still, the Warriors have repeatedly shown that they value what Green brings. Former general manager Bob Myers once said, “Without him, we probably don’t have any of the championships,” while also acknowledging that Green is a “complicated” person.

That is essentially the balance Arenas is highlighting. Green’s confrontations can hurt his team, sometimes forcing it to play without one of its most important defenders. But his ability to organize the defense, read opponents, and create opportunities for others has been central to Golden State’s success.