Draymond Green’s mouth has gotten him into quite a bit of trouble over the course of his NBA career, but it’s paying him back now.
Green, who has been a guest on TNT’s NBA programming over the past few weeks, has signed on with CNN as a contributor for the network. He made his first appearance on Friday when he joined Jake Tapper to discuss the NBA players’ historic strike this past week, and as usual, he was quite outspoken.
Along with the rest of his teammates, Green has had a bit more time on his hands this past season (and this summer), as the Warriors were one of the eight teams that didn’t qualify for an invitation to the Orlando “bubble” where the 2019-20 NBA season will conclude.
Despite being on the sidelines, though, Green has remained involved, using both his voice and his platform to bring awareness to the fight that his NBA brethren continue to pursue — justice for members of the Black community who have been on the receiving end of police brutality, as well as efforts to end voter suppression.
Green attracted some attention within the past few days when it was reported that he was advocating for the players to continue their season, despite the fact that both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were reportedly in favor of canceling.
Green addressed it with Tapper on Friday, explaining his rationale.
I think it’s very important that we continue playing. I think when you put it in terms of a concert when a performer is on the stage, if you’re sitting in the nosebleeds, the only way you can hear that performer is because they have a microphone and they’re on a stage and so if we leave our stage and we drop our microphone, we can no longer speak for those people that we are speaking for which are parts of our community that their voices aren’t heard and i think it’s extremely important that we continue to speak for them.
And also, if you look at it from a money and resource standpoint, there’s no surprise that tons of NBA guys, NBA teams and the league as a whole contributes to the urban community, the black community, I know I like to contribute as much as I possibly can. If we take those resources away, we’re taking resources away from ourselves to be able to continue this fight and I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.
Tapper also challenged Green, essentially asking him what “success” looks like from the players’ standpoint. In essence, Green’s response was that, while the fight will be long, the immediate steps that the NBA has taken are a step in the right direction.
I think I’m extremely proud of what my brothers in the bubble have accomplished over the last few days. You know the league made an announcement where there will be three things happening right away, a social justice coalition, which I think is extremely important. Setting up practice facilities and areenas as voting poll sites, which we see what’s going on with voter suppression today and the league is doing a great job of that and then also putting the money behind advertising to continue to bring eyeballs and the knowledge that we need for what is going on to the world and so when i look at that, the NBA has been leading in this cause. I am proud to be apart of that and continue trying to help where we can.
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green says the NBA should keep playing.
“If we leave our stage and we drop our microphone, we could no longer speak for these people that we are speaking for … We’re taking resources away from ourselves to be able to continue this fight.” pic.twitter.com/nfb1Ty9BNQ— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) August 28, 2020
And as far as what the league’s players were fighting for, Green cited “human rights” for the Black community as well as ending/minimizing voter suppression as two areas of major concern for the NBPA.
It’s simple basic human rights. It’s holding these cops accountable that are killing unarmed black people for no apparent reason. they’re protected by all of these laws and they’re protected by these unions, that’s ridiculous. let’s change some of thee laws, let’s stop the voter suppression…
Overall, continuing to put money in the urban community to change our school systems to continue to educate and like I said, most importantly, stopping the killing of all these unarmed black people.
Green ended the interview by lashing out at President Trump, referring to him as a “master manipulator” and pushing back on the notion that the NBA has become a “political organization,” in the President’s words.
The NBA and its players, according to Green, aren’t fighting on the side of any Democratic or Republican issue — they’re fighting for equal rights and justice.
As usual on Friday, Green was speaking out. It was his first appearance on CNN, but certainly not his last.