A former Golden State Warriors teammate has pointed to Draymond Green’s influence as a key reason behind how the NBA now values sixth men and role players financially.
The argument centers on how the league has evolved, with scoring numbers and contracts becoming more closely linked.
It also highlights how shifts in team success can reshape what players aim for individually.
Andre Iguodala explains NBA scoring and money shift
Andre Iguodala, on the Roommates Show, broke down how the modern game has changed the relationship between production and earnings.
“It’s like, all right, go average 24, it’s not as hard as it used to be because it’s more possessions, faster pace, and then now everybody’s like, why play the right way to win when you’re going to make more money getting buckets,” Iguodala said.
Iguodala’s point reflects how pace and scoring environments have altered expectations across the league.
It also suggests that players may now be incentivised to prioritise individual output over team structure.
Draymond Green’s impact linked to rise in sixth man salaries
He then connected that shift to how winning players have influenced contract value across different roles.
“I would say Draymond played a big role in valuing winning, and then other guys seeing that, [realised] they can get paid too because now you can get paid too, now the sixth man getting ‘paid’ paid now,” Iggy stated.
The comment ties Green’s success to a broader trend, where impact players who contribute to winning have helped redefine market value.
It has created a situation where even non-star roles can command significant contracts. For Iguodala, that evolution explains both the positives and the tension, as the balance between winning and individual reward continues to shift.
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