Michigan State to retire Draymond Green’s No. 23 with Warriors present

Draymond Green will get his number 23 jersey hung in the Michigan State rafters forever with several Warriors watching from the stands.

When No. 11 Michigan State clashes with fellow powerhouse No. 10 Duke, there will be a little more on the line than a typical ACC-Big Ten challenge. “Spartan Dawg” legend, Draymond Green will get his No.23 jersey retired by the university he spent four years at through 2008-12.

Green finished as the school’s all-time leading rebounder (1,096), second in blocks (117) and steals (180). He registered three career college triple-doubles in East Lansing, second to NBA Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson. During his time in white and green, the Saginaw, Michigan standout was a consensus first-team All-American, NABC Player of the Years and Big Ten Player of the Year all in 2012.

Alongside legendary college coach Tom Izzo, Green led the Spartans to two final four appearances and three Big Ten regular-season championships.

When Green’s number gets pulled into the rafters, he will have the support of some of his Golden State teammates, including head coach Steve Kerr.

“One of the things I love about Draymond is I know how much Michigan State means to him, His loyalty to his school is a big part of who he is and a big part of what he’s meant to the Warriors. This is a league where routinely, you get guys after they spent four months on a college campus and then they’re gone.” Kerr told reporters during the team’s trip to Atlanta. “I love the fact that he’s so loyal to his school. That’s his foundation, that’s his rock. We’ve been the beneficiary of everything, Coach Izzo, and the school did for Draymond. It’ll be nice for me to be there. I know Bob (Myers) and Joe (Lacob) feel the same way.”

Warriors general manager Bob Myers, and owner, Joe Lacob, will also be in East Lansing to watch Green’s jersey retirement. Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle reported other individual Warriors would also be in attendance. The team is currently in the middle of a five-game road trip with the Charlotte Hornets next on the docket.

Green’s night will be memorable, but with the Warriors slated to have a high lottery pick, it’s also an opportunity for Myers and the Warriors to get a look at some top prospects playing in the game. Duke players like Vernon Carey Jr, Matthew Hurt and Michigan State’s Cassius Winston could be targets for Golden State in June’s 2020 NBA draft.