Draymond Green knows a thing or two about being an afterthought pick who made good. So when the former Michigan State star hails another Spartan as “the steal of the draft” it will get some notice.

And that’s exactly what Green did on Thursday night, tabbing former Michigan State guard Cassius Winston as the sleeper of this draft class.

Winston, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, was taken midway through the second round at No. 53 overall by the Washington Wizards. He is a multi-year starter for Michigan State who averaged 18.6 points per game and 5.9 assists his senior season for the Spartans.

Green weighed in on the selection of Winston with more than just a thumbs up.

The 30-year old Green has forged quite a career since being the No. 35 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Three times he’s been an All-Star as well as three times being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In 2017, he was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Not bad for a second round pick. Green was the Big Ten Player of the Year during his final season at Michigan State in 2012.

Winston joins a good situation in Washington where he should challenge for playing time in the Wizards backcourt. Across 139 games played including 108 starts in his four years in East Lansing, Winston averaged 14.2 points per game and 6.4 assists per game.