Draymond Green pinches himself after surprising stat puts him among LeBron James and 3x MVP

For years, people have raved about Stephen Curry, and rightfully so. Still, as great as the future Hall of Famer is, he's had a perennial unsung hero by his side. Draymond Green, one of the savviest and most controversial players of all time, also deserves plenty of credit for what he's done in his career.

Some might argue that his numbers aren't Hall of Fame-worthy. Then again, Green is a unique kind of player whose impact doesn't always pop up on the stat sheet. Also, with a Defensive Player of the Year award and four NBA championships, he should be considered a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Recently, even the Warriors star was himself in awe of one of his accomplishments. Green took to Instagram to claim he sometimes has to "pinch himself" after finding out that he's now third all-time in games with 10+ assists by a non-guard, trailing only Nikola Jokic and LeBron James:

Draymond Green's Instagram story - Image Credit: Draymond Green's Instagram

"Let me guess... I only got assists because someone had to make the shot," Green jokingly wrote. "Sometimes I pinch myself... You've done great things young man from Saginaw."

Draymond Green is the Warriors' catalyst

Green's numbers might not be eye-popping. But he's been the heart and soul of the Warriors since he took over from the injured David Lee as their starting power forward almost a decade ago.

His defensive prowess and basketball IQ have been one of the biggest catalysts behind the dynasty's success. Conversely, the Warriors have struggled mightily whenever he's gotten himself ejected or isn't focused.

This season, Green is averaging 8.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He's not going to take or make a lot of shots, but his passing allows Stephen Curry to roam freely around the perimeter and get a lot of wide-open looks. Not to mention, he also likes to get everybody involved in the flow of the offense.

Granted, Green has also been tangled up in several incidents throughout the course of his career. He's earned a bit of a tough reputation, and his unapologetic nature has made him a polarizing and not-so-popular figure among non-Warriors fans.

Yet, even with his well-documented issues, that kind of determination to win at all costs has helped him become a vocal leader and strong presence his team has needed.