Warriors' Green took Popovich's advice, embraced 1st All-Star experience

Kobe Bryant's last All-Star appearance was Draymond Green's first.

While Sunday's extravaganza was an official send-off for "The Black Mamba," it also served as an unofficial changing of the guard for the league, with only nine of the 24 players named to either conference's All-Star team being over the age of 30.

As Green joined his Golden State running mates Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson - who made their respective All-Star debuts in previous years - everything about Sunday's festivities was new to the 25-year-old Michigan State product.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who piloted the Western Conference squad to a 196-173 blowout victory, made sure that Green didn't take such a novel experience for granted.

"I was the first one (from the West) announced," Green told MLive's David Mayo, "and I was standing next to him (Popovich), and coach said, 'Man, did you hear what Drake just said? He said this is the game with the 24 best players in the world. You're one of those guys. Embrace it all, because you never would have thought that when you were at Michigan State, and I never would have thought that when I was coaching Division II, but we're here."

Green's rapid rise to All-Star status has been an impressive one. The 35th overall pick in the 2012 draft has proven to be an absolute steal for the Warriors, who rely heavily on his endless energy reserves and versatile capabilities.

The fourth-year forward is in the midst of his best statistical campaign yet, averaging nearly a triple-double of 14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.2 assists, while adding 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks for good measure.

And for his brilliant on-court exploits, the youngster from Saginaw, Mich. was rewarded with his first of what's likely many more All-Star appearances to come.