Warriors rookie seems down to Earth WARRIORS

Recommended Video:

When Draymond Green got drafted by the Warriors in June, he knew he was going to have to live outside the 70-mile radius in Michigan that was all he knew for the first 22 years of his life.

He surveyed his new teammates about their Bay Area living situations and considered two of the more popular choices: downtown San Francisco high-rises and condos near Lake Merritt in Oakland. Ultimately, he chose something unique - a pristine but modest apartment in Emeryville.

"Let's put it this way: If Steph Curry is staying somewhere, I can't afford it," said Green, who signed a three-year deal worth about $2.6 million. "I could live in San Francisco, but I'd be broke when it's all said and done."

When it comes to finances, Green is the converse of many NBA rookies. He ate small meals during the Las Vegas Summer League, so he could pocket some of his per diem. He does his grocery shopping at the Pak 'N' Save, because he has yet to find a Walmart.

Last month, he set out on a trek to see the Golden Gate Bridge up close and personal for the first time. He said it was a great life experience, but he couldn't help thinking about the price of gas and paying two tolls during the drive.

"I've been pretty broke my entire life," Green said. "I'm not going to live that same life, but I'm going to keep those same principles."

Warriors rookie Draymond Green moves into his new East Bay apartment Tuesday September 25, 2012. Warriors rookie Draymond Green moves into his new East Bay apartment Tuesday September 25, 2012. Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Warriors rookie seems down to Earth 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Green's on-court talents are almost as unique as his fiscal shrewdness, and that's what makes him a dark horse for the Warriors' starting small forward spot. When center Andrew Bogut is healthy, four starting positions will be locked - along with point guard Stephen Curry, shooting guard Klay Thompson and power forward David Lee - but coach Mark Jackson says small forward is an open competition.

Richard Jefferson may have arrived to camp with the edge since he has the most experience and has played in 94 playoff games, but rookie Harrison Barnes and last year's bench energizer, Brandon Rush, have looked good three days into camp. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Green has been limited by an inflamed right knee, so he's running a distant fourth right now.

But that's kind of how he's lived his basketball life.

Having been reared in Saginaw, Mich., a Midwestern industrial town decimated by the shrinking auto industry, Green wasn't targeted until late in the recruiting process and didn't log a ton of minutes in his first season at Michigan State. His response was to work on his game and condition his body until he could leave East Lansing as the school's all-time leading rebounder, and he finished second in blocked shots and steals.

After being selected a consensus All-American and the NABC National Player of the Year in 2012, Green slipped out of the NBA's first round and was passed over four times in the second round before the Warriors grabbed him with 35th pick. His response was to go the Las Vegas Summer League and convince many pundits that he was the steal of the draft.

"I see the game differently than some guys," Green said. "I'm always reading the next move. When the ball isn't in my hands, I'm already scanning for where the next pass is going. I'm not as athletic as some guys, so I have to counter that with a tremendous brain that thinks the game."

Green is probably more of a power forward than a small forward, but he might have all of the attributes that the Warriors need in their fifth starter. The other four have the scoring covered, but the team needs someone who doesn't require shots to be successful, someone who rebounds with toughness and someone who defends with grit.

Green offers all of that.

"He's a guy who can handle the ball, can shoot the ball, can defend, can rebound, and he's a winner," Jackson said. "I can't remember the last rookie I remember saying if he wants to, he'll be a coach in this league. If you had him diagram a play, a principle, a drill, he'd do it to a 'T.' He's an exceptionally smart young man and basketball player."