The beef between Draymond Green and Charles Barkley goes back a long, long way and, let me tell you, it ain’t ending anytime soon.
Barkley has been making fun of the Warriors all season long. And, honestly, can you blame him? They’re pretty awful.
But Barkley’s energy for Green has been pretty relentless over the last few years. Earlier this season he made fun of Green for averaging what he called a “triple single.”
Last week he kept the joke going during the Lakers game after Green got ejected, and brought up Green’s non-stop trash talk when the Warriors were at their peak and he was surrounded by All-Stars.
“He talks all that stuff when he’s got them other boys with him, now he’s out there [and has to] fight for himself he just don’t want to play. Give me a break. Y’all better quit telling me who can play and who can’t play. I know who can play.”
Charles Barkley continues roasting Draymond Green "He got his normal triple-single" pic.twitter.com/qa28hWZgfd
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 28, 2020
Green finally got a chance to respond today and, hoo boy, did he ever. After today’s practice, Green was asked about he and the Warriors’ critics — particularly Barkley. He then proceeded to let the shots fly.
Green said Barkley wasn’t good enough at broadcasting or basketball to talk about his game.
Draymond Green on the recent TNT criticism: “(Charles) Barkley should stop before I take his job. Because I can do that well, too…He also can’t talk basketball with me either. Not smart enough, not qualified. No rings, can’t sit at this table.” pic.twitter.com/AmGw6jZidE
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 6, 2020
“He should stop before I take his job. If he keep talking, I’ll take it soon — sooner than he thinks. He probably should be quiet. He also can’t talk basketball with me, either. Not smart enough, not qualified. No rings, can’t sit at this table.”
And, BOY, did that last part get the internet in a frenzy. This went from beef to a referendum on RINGZZZ culture real quick.
Charles Barkley won an MVP, 11x All-Star, made first or second team All NBA 10 times, and has his number retired for 2 different NBA franchises. Trying to belittle his career is dumb.
— Carrington Harrison (@cdotharrison) March 6, 2020
Charles Barkley won an MVP in 1993 and is a Hall of Famer… https://t.co/HfcJA4wssK
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) March 6, 2020
Just my personal opinion. Don’t want no smoke. Draymond is not even close to Charles Barkley’s level as a player or as an analyst. Not really sure what he’s talking about here. Also, he can’t use the “no rings” argument. We all know why, right? https://t.co/v9IBP9JHaR
— Myck Miller (@MyckMiller) March 6, 2020
Draymond Green is…..
1) A great player
2) A great soundbite
3) A great passer/defender
4) A great teammate5) Nowhere in the class of Charles Barkley as a player. Simple as that. https://t.co/tli5DAZWmf
— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) March 6, 2020
Here’s the thing, though. We’re all looking at this the wrong way. This isn’t the time for some astute analysis on either Barkley or Green as NBA players in the zeitgeist. That’s way to complicated and complex for what this is.
Nah, y’all. This is beef. Like, legit beef — not “I’m going to subtweet you to death” beef. All of that stuff kind of goes out the window.
Does Green know that Charles Barkley was a great player? Of course he does. It doesn’t matter, though. Why? Because Barkley told a nationally televised audience that he wanted to punch Green in the face two years ago. In all honesty, calling Barkley ringless is probably a more measured response from Green.
They legitimately don’t like each other. That’s just what it is. We shouldn’t think of it as more than that.
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