Pacific Notes: Draymond, Fox, Okogie, Durant

warrior Star forward Draymond Greenan eight-time All-Defensive Teamer, hopes to return to All-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, Green revealed in a conversation with the former Warriors point guard Baron Davis on the Green podcast “The Draymond Green Show” (YouTube video link). Green, considered one of the best defenders of his generation, has only won the award once in 2017.

“That’s my goal, you know, just getting through this offseason and then seeing my name not be on an All-Defensive team last year.” Green said. “I know I wasn't eligible because of the games I missed, but it still bothered me. I want to continue to build on what I hope will ultimately be a Hall of Fame career. The more awards, the better.”

The 34-year-old has been available for all six of the Warriors' 5-1 games this season. He is averaging 7.3 points on .438/.467/.643 shooting distribution along with 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per night.

“I’m not 7 feet tall, so I have to use positioning and my brain to be great.” Green added. “This year that’s one of my goals: to get back into the Defensive Player of the Year category, get back on the All-Defense First Team and just stay up there.”

There's more from the Pacific Division:

• Kings All-Star Point Guard De'Aaron Fox has played all of his regular-season games this year with a dislocated pinky finger on his left shooting hand, Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee reports. His pinky is glued to his ring finger for now. Fox revealed he first contracted the illness in training camp. Imaging suggested that there was no fracture, but it had not yet fully healed. “(It’s) probably a tape.” Fox told Biderman. He plans to play through it rather than undergo surgery, which he believes would keep him out of action for about a month.
• Suns Reserve wing Josh Okogie had to sit out the first five games of the Phoenix season with a hamstring strain. According to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link), he recently announced to reporters that he has been cleared to return. “I run very hard and I run very fast” Okogie said his style of play was a potential obstacle to a quicker return. “I just have to make sure my thigh muscles can take it. Not just accepting it, but sustaining it.”
• After being criticized for his leadership skills by ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith on the network's “First Take,” Suns All-Star Forward Kevin Durant was outraged by the assessment, according to Doug Haller of The Athletic. “Yes, Stephen A., I don’t understand how people can even listen to Stephen A.” Durant told Haller. “I’ve been in the league for 18 years. I have never seen Stephen A. at a training session, film session or shoot-around. I haven't seen him anywhere other than on TV talking about players and holding them to standards that he doesn't even hold himself or other people to. For me he is a clown. He's always been a clown. You can write that too.” Phoenix appears to be responding well to Durant's leadership this year. The club is off to an encouraging 5-1 start.