Draymond Green might end up being one of the most misunderstood players of this generation.

I see a lot of parallels to Dennis Rodman already, and not just because of their tendencies to flail their legs.

They’re both gritty overachievers, fantastic defenders who seem to revel in doing the little things to help their team win, and have enigmatic personalities that sometimes shield who they truly are.

Green isn’t the rebounder that Rodman was, and Rodman doesn’t have the offensive skills that Green has, but they seem to fill similar roles for their championship teams.

Whether Green ends up wearing a wedding dress in public or dying his hair a multitude of colors is still to be determined, but for a player who lets passion control his actions, for better or worse, it’s crucial that strong figures continue to provide the firmness and stability necessary to get the most out of Green.

Perhaps no coach is as aware of the idiosyncrasies of Green as Tom Izzo, the legendary Michigan State coach who mentored Green with the Spartans from 2008-2012.

As Green prepares to proudly represent Team USA at the Rio Olympics after a turbulent few months both on and off the court, Izzo speaks of Green with tremendous admiration for the type of person he is.

The Detroit Free Press had a great story about Izzo calling Green after game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

It was one of the ugliest performances in recent playoff history for any player, let alone a star like Green.

He went 1-9 shooting and had a plus-minus of -43, which represented the lowest playoff total for any player since 1997.

Izzo decided to give Green a call the next day, but was met with coldness and an unwillingness to hear any type of negativity.

Izzo was left truly disheartened that Green refused to open up and talk about things, but didn’t turn his back after Green’s terse reaction.

“He was mad at me, so I texted him and said ‘Hey, if you’re going to be mad at me, at least have the courage to tell me,” Izzo said.

About 30 seconds after the text was sent, Izzo got a remorseful call from Green that showed the reverence he has for his college coach.

“He said ‘Coach, I’m embarrassed. I didn’t play well enough. You have the right to tell me when I do wrong every day of the year for the rest of your life,” Izzo said.

What makes a great coach isn’t so much being a master tactician, but being an empathetic motivator with the compassion to reach a team full of vastly different individuals and allow them to reach their full potential and grow as people.

While most people would have simply let Green stew in his own juices, Izzo knew what it took to reach Green, and that any bitterness expressed was only trying to conceal vulnerability and regret.

Green is often volatile, but within that demeanor is an intense loyal friend and a person willing to work hard to accomplish the task at hand.

“One of the best kids I’ve ever coached,” Izzo said, referring to Green. “The guy would take a bullet for me tomorrow, and I would do the same for him.”

Not many people know Green as well as Izzo does, and it speaks volumes when Izzo bestows Green with such tremendous praise.

We all make mistakes, and hopefully Green uses the adversity he has faced both on and off the court recently for personal growth.

Even when times get rough, it’s comforting to know that a quality friend like Izzo is there to help him get back on track.

We wish Green the best of luck, and know that Team USA will greatly benefit from his tenacious passion and willingness to strive for success on the court.