Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green expressed deep ambivalence about San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama's public assertion that defense is half the game. Green acknowledged the truth in Wembanyama's statement but resented the need for the young superstar to state the obvious. 'Wemby said, 'Defense is 50% of the game,' and it was like, oh, no one realized that?' Green said. 'No one realized that 50% of the game we play is on that end of the floor?' Green's comments came after Wembanyama highlighted his team's 4-1 record against MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, his offensive impact, and his status as the league's top defensive force. Green wasn't ready to crown Wembanyama MVP, noting 'maybe he is' but work remains, pivoting back to the defensive end. 'It's an indictment on the game of basketball,' Green declared. 'Everybody want to crush Luka Doncic when Luka doesn't live up to the standard of defense.

But we got this guy defending entire teams and nobody took it into account until he said defense is 50% of the game.' Green's own history of self-promotion, which helped him finish third in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, underscores the point that players often need to advocate for themselves. Wembanyama, having played 57 regular-season games plus the NBA Cup final, needs seven of the Spurs' final ten to qualify for postseason awards. While considered the runaway favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, he remains a longshot against Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP.

The Warriors and Spurs face off next Wednesday on ESPN.