Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s most tenacious defenders, but even the best have their toughest battles. In a recent interview, Green admitted that there have been only two playoff matchups where he truly felt outmatched—Pascal Siakam during the 2019 NBA Finals and Julius Randle in the 2025 Western Conference Semifinals.
Green first pointed to Siakam’s performance in the 2019 NBA Finals, when the Toronto Raptors defeated the Warriors to win their first-ever championship.
“He destroyed me,” Green said,
recalling Siakam’s ability to spin off defenders and create scoring opportunities.
Siakam was a key factor in Toronto’s success, averaging 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in the series. His Game 1 explosion—32 points on 14-of-17 shooting—set the tone for the Raptors, and Green admitted that Siakam’s unpredictable movements made him one of the toughest covers he’s ever faced.
Fast forward to 2025, and Green found himself struggling against another forward—Julius Randle of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In their second-round playoff series, Randle averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds, leading Minnesota to a five-game series win over Golden State.
Green acknowledged that Randle’s physicality and shot-making made him nearly impossible to contain.
“Julius was incredible,” Green said. “Some of the shots he was taking were shots you want him to take, but he made them. I lost my matchup.”
“I lost my matchup to Julius Randle. The only other time I really felt like I lost my matchup in a series was against Pascal Siakam…He destroyed me.”
— Draymond
(via @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 24, 2025
For a player known for his defensive prowess, Green’s admission is significant. He has faced countless elite scorers throughout his career, but Siakam and Randle stand out as the only two players who truly got the better of him in a playoff series.
As Siakam continues to lead the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and Randle pushes the Timberwolves toward a potential NBA Finals appearance.
