Draymond Green and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard have several things in common. They both were picked in the 2012 NBA Draft, they both play with a gigantic chip on their shoulder, and both are the emotional leaders of their respective teams.
So when Lillard was Green's guest on the debut episode of Bleacher Report's "Chips with Draymond Green," the two had plenty to talk about.
"I think it comes from my upbringing," Lillard said when asked where the chip on his shoulder comes from. "When I look back on my childhood, I was always second to somebody. The first high school I went to, Arroyo in San Lorenzo. I transferred to St. Joe's in Alameda and I ain't play my whole sophomore year."
"The coach was like, 'Man, you think you're gonna make it to the NBA?' And I was like, 'Yeah.' And he chuckled and laughed in my face," Lillard continued. " ... I'll never forget when he said that. And it was that summer when we played AAU."
Lillard explained that, despite dominating on the AAU circuit, he didn't receive any attention from major collegiate programs. From that point on, he used that snub as motivation.
"I think from that moment, it was like I felt slighted," Lillard said.
Lillard would go on to star at Weber State, and the Blazers ultimately selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft. Though he was no longer overlooked, Lillard still felt that he deserved to go higher -- another thing he has in common with Green, who lasted until the 35th pick.
"Me being drafted at the 35th pick, though, I can name 15 small forwards/power forwards that went before me that I knew right then, like, yo, this dude's not better than me," Green told Lillard. "I go back and look at our draft, and I say there's three people that'll get drafted before me if our draft was re-done: (Anthony Davis), you, and Brad (Beal)."
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Green then turned that question around on Lillard, who was of the same opinion.
"I think I would be the second pick in our draft," Lillard replied.
It's difficult to argue with them, given the decorated careers Green and Lillard have produced thus far. They both certainly should have been picked earlier upon entering the league, and neither will allow himself to forget that.
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