Draymond Green dismissed Michael Jordan and LeBron James when naming basketball’s greatest player of all time (GOAT).
Green’s Golden State Warriors began their play off campaign with a 95-85 win at the Houston Rockets on Sunday, with Steph Curry scoring a game high 31 points, while contributing six rebounds and three assists.
Jimmy Butler also chipped in with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists to hand the seventh seeded Warrior a 1-0 series lead, with game 2 to take place on Thursday.
In the wake of the victory, Green heaped praise on veteran guard Curry, whose array of stunning three-point shots included a near half-court bomb and an off-balance jumper from out of bounds.
"That deep one from the Toyota Center [logo] and the one out of bounds over here, absolutely insane," Green said. "But that's why he's the GOAT."
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Indeed, Green’s assessment of Curry as the GOAT would place the 37-year-old ahead of consensus greats such as Jordan and James.
"Steph was incredible. He was incredible," Warriors coach Steve Kerr added.
"With that type of pressure on him from [Amen] Thompson and others, he just made some amazing plays and, obviously, carried us offensively along with Jimmy."
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The Rockets, meanwhile, who were seeded second in the play-offs ended the regular season with three successive defeats and have lost back to back home games.
When asked if a lack of experience cost his side, coach Ime Udoka said "I wouldn't say the moment, I would say the physicality at times, going after guys, and just play-off basketball.
"It's not really about the moment. Going into the lane, trying to shoot over too many and not finding your outlets is a big thing and a big key for us all year."
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers claimed a 121-100 win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-offs.
Topics: NBA, Steph Curry , Basketball, Lebron James
Chris Byfield