Warriors' Draymond Green, Bob Myers visit Danville high school
DANVILLE, Calif. (KGO) -- It's pretty cool to have an NBA championship trophy in your high school gymnasium. So, how about two?
"Have you touched them, yet?" I asked student Alex Popper.
"Not yet. They're wearing white gloves."
More than the Golden State Warriors' last two NBA "bookends" arrived at Monte Vista High School Wednesday. How about Draymond Green, who just won the NBA's award for Defensive Player of the Year?
FULL VIDEO: Draymond Green, Bob Myers hold press conference at Monte Vista High School
Or Monte Vista alum-turned-Warriors General Manger Bob Myers, who played on this very floor as a student in 1993, and just became the newly-honored NBA Executive of the Year.
Myers showed lots of love for his community roots by returning to Monte Vista for the press conference. "Awards are not for one person. I think they are for a group of people," said Myers. "You don't know where life is going to take you, so maybe we could inspire some kids to aim high."
Those words resonated with his former speech and debate teacher David Matley. "I mean, Bob always came across as a someone who would be successful. That he came back shows what kind of person he is. He cares about people in the past and those who helped him."
This day focused on inspiration. And the recipients did it with humor. "I am happy because I can take the credit for him taking credit," joked Draymond, who received a surprise as well. The Warriors flew in Lou Dawkins, his high school coach from Saginaw, Michigan.
"What did Draymond say when he saw you?" I asked Dawkins.
"I love you"
"What did you say?"
"I love you. Having Draymond Green in my life has been a blessing."
Draymond Green's high school team won two state championships. On Wednesday, the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year credited his high school coach for teaching him that aspect of the game. How rewarding for Coach Dawkins. "I text him during the games and he responds like in high school. He is a young man with that winning edge," he said.
"Just curious," I asked. "How are the Warriors doing in the way they handle him?"
"Just keep him humble. Let Draymond be Draymond," said the sage high school coach. "You don't want to take the edge off because it rubs off on the rest of the team."
When we cornered Bob Myers, we asked about the kid he used to be when Monte Vista served as his home court. What would that the young Bob Myers think about experienced version who returned on Wednesday?
"I would say I was not overly confident. I would say I couldn't be that guy."
So says the man who became him.
Today, he had a gym-filled with proud, grateful people to prove it.
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