LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis. These are the premier names when it comes to NBA forwards. They have been the class of the league for the last decade, and will continue to be at the forefront of every fan’s minds for years to come. There is another name, though, that is emerging and deserves to be included in the conversation of the best NBA forwards: Draymond Green.

Draymond is playing at an exceptional level this year. On a team with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, it would be easy for him to be overlooked. However, all signs point to Green being the turnkey in Golden State’s system, and it’s no coincidence that one of the team’s four losses came when he wasn’t in the lineup.

In last year’s NBA Finals, the series turned in the Warriors’ favor in game four. Many credited this to Steve Kerr’s decision to start Andre Iguodala, and while that was a masterful move, there was another reason that series shifted. In game four, Draymond Green found his mojo again. The Cavaliers had been successful trapping Stephen Curry on screens and making Green be the primary playmaker; it worked early in the series as Dray was struggling. Then, he picked up his play and forced the Cavs to deal with him, which freed up Curry and the rest of the offense.

This year has been much of the same story. Green leads NBA forwards in assists per game, an indication of his playmaking abilities. He is also in the top five in rebounds per game, and is still shooting over 41% from behind the arc. Green is among only a handful of players in the top 20 of both offensive and defensive ratings, and is in the top 10 in defensive win shares, overall win shares, and value over replacement player metrics.

All of the numbers point out that Draymond Green is in the conversation of best forwards in the league. He isn’t at the top, but he belongs among the top five, along with Durant, James, Davis, and another rising star: Kawhi Leonard.  What the numbers can’t illustrate is just how important Green’s versatility means to his team.

His ability to play any position from 1-5 allows the Warriors to play small ball, super small ball, or super duper maga small ball (ok, I made that one up). He creates mismatches all over the floor and has taken advantage of them this year like he has not in the past. His defensive abilities allow Curry and Thompson to save energy they need to run around screens on offense, and he sets the tone with his toughness and grit.

All things considered, it’s time to stop leaving Draymond Green on the back burner when the topic of best NBA players is discussed. He has asserted himself as a premier forward, and deserves to be treated as such. In the next few months, and the next few seasons, his growth will only greater emphasize the impact he is making on the league, and pretty soon we’ll have no choice but to take notice.