Last week, it was Steph Curry making an impromptu appearance at the pro runs going on at UCLA, led by Raptors development coach and summer-hoop legend Rico Hines. Curry put on a show and got some good work in on his game with fellow deep-range star Trae Young, two things he does that haven’t really gotten a lot of exposition as things like his summer golfing tournaments or other similar commentary.

To be the best in the game, however, you’ve gotta work, and there’s no doubt he’s putting in the work. There isn’t much of a doubt that one of his primary running mates does at well.

This week, it was Draymond Green who was spotted in Southern California at Hines’ pro pick-up games. Draymond’s a bit of an interesting player, in that his game doesn’t really shout “pick-up hooper”. He does the jobs on the court that few others want to do, and when it comes to casual games, are the things that players who can’t score at will or dribble through an entire defense tend to take up. Draymond got to show, however, just how elite you have to be to be in the NBA even at something as trivial as pick-up.

While he has plenty to brag about from this, it’s Green’s post-runs speech that’s the most attention-grabbing. The UCLA runs are filled with NBA guys and other professional talent from across the globe, so the thought of one player coming in at the same level as his peers and giving a speech that sounds like it’d come from a locker-room vet or even the coach isn’t exactly something that crosses the mind very often.

Much like his vocal leadership for the Warriors, however, Dray made it a point to address the players and peers at the games. Ultimately, his “iron sharpens iron” philosophy is what helps the game grow, and the kind of knowledge he drops here is coming from a 4-time champion and almost certainly a future Hall-of-Famer:

If there’s anyone to talk about making it to the end, it’s a Golden State Warrior.

Draymond Green’s message is something from the mentality that it takes to win an NBA championship. For many, the expectations are to make the playoffs, or to just leave a good-enough legacy to be remembered for playing in the NBA. What separates the players who want to win is their commitment to doing the little things, like finishing hard on a 2-minute sprinting drill, that will ultimately add up. Basketball is a game of nuance, and embracing that nuance is key to victory.

While there have always been questions about Draymond’s ability given a limited offensive skillset the more his game ages, one thing that can’t be questioned about Green is his fire to compete and will to win. It’s obvious that he’s committed to doing those little things, to be the gym’s hardest worker, because that’s how you end up as a world champion.

(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw - Getty Images)