Tag: Draymond Green

Draymond Green claps back at Rasheed Wallace’s spicy take

Draymond Green has responded to Rasheed Wallace’s statement that the 2004 Detroit Pistons would be the 2017 Golden State Warriors.

Rasheed Wallace recently declared that his 2004 Detroit Pistons team would have beat the s— out of the 2017 Golden State Warriors roster. The former four-time All-Star forward believes his former roster could have bullied the Warriors at every position. His comments came during a recent appearance on the “Sheed & Tyler” podcast.

Draymond Green responded to Wallace’s comments via X (formerly known as Twitter). Golden State’s veteran forward questioned the offensive production of the 2004 Piston’s team, noting how the Warriors could outscore them with considerable ease, before citing the movement within Steve Kerr’s offensive system. Green did credit Wallace for winning a championship that season, though.

“Sheed we would’ve smacked yall,” Green wrote. “Yall was scoring 72 points per game. That’s not winning a half. And we putting you and them big ass forces in every pick and roll. Let’s see you move them feet. That one ring was great though big bro. We all appreciated it!”

The 2017 Warriors roster has Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Thompson, all in their prime. They are widely considered to be one of the best teams in NBA history. The versatile scoring, pace and movement would undoubtedly have run the 2004 Pistons off the court. Plenty of teams tried to outmuscle the Warriors and failed.

The 2004 Pistons were an impressive team. It’s fair to question how they would stack up against some of the best teams in the modern era. However, the 2017 Warriors is likely a step too far. They were simply too dominant and too talented. Regardless of their perceived lack of size.

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Draymond Green gave the Fever advice after Caitlin Clark took a hard foul from Chennedy Carter

Draymond Green gave the Fever some advice after Caitlin Clark took a hard foul.

After Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark took a hard foul from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter on Saturday afternoon, Golden State Warriors superstar Draymond Green recommended Indiana find an enforcer.

In an Instagram comment on an ESPNW post surrounding the moment, Green chimed in that “Indiana better go invest in an enforcer… FAST!”

Of course, Green has historically held that role during his time with Golden State, making sure opposing players aren’t too rough on his teammates.

While nobody on the Fever roster wants to see Clark take cheap shots, Green must feel that the team still needs someone to instantly react if the 2024 WNBA Draft first-overall pick gets unnecessary contact from an opponent.

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Draymond Green doesn’t believe the Celtics have had it easy

Draymond Green isn’t a fan of the current narrative surrounding the Boston Celtics.

Draymond Green knows what it takes to win an NBA championship, having won four of them with the Golden State Warriors. The most recent ring in Green’s collection came in 2022 when Golden State overcame the Boston Celtics.

With the Warriors out of the postseason, Green has watched Boston make another run to the NBA Finals.

When speaking on a recent episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the veteran expressed his distaste for the current media narrative surrounding the Celtics, in which many fans and analysts question the legitimacy of their run.

“The Celtics make it to the Finals with only two losses and everybody is saying ‘Their road isn’t tough enough,’” Green said. “If I’m honest, I don’t ever think the East is that tough, but I’ve also made it to an NBA Finals and lost no games along the way, and no one would say our road wasn’t tough enough, so don’t give me that ‘The Boston Celtics’ road isn’t tough enough.’”

Golden State has received its fair share of criticism over the years, most notably during the Kevin Durant era, when many believed the team was overpowered.

Green has been outspoken throughout the postseason, sharing his thoughts on every team and their performances. However, he has been fair in his assessments and will likely continue to speak his mind throughout the finals. Nevertheless, he will undoubtedly want to be back there competing next season rather than watching from home.

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Former NBA guard is picking prime Warriors over the Kobe Bryant Lakers

The former NBA guard believes the Golden State Warriors would have defeated the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Lakers.

The Golden State Warriors dynasty is one of the most dominant in NBA history. In their prime, the trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green often looked unbeatable.

In a recent appearance on Shaquille O’Neal’s “The Big Podcast,” Draymond Green and the Los Angeles Lakers legend debated whether the Warriors in their prime could beat the Lakers in their prime during the Kobe Bryant and Shaq era.

In the latest episode of “The 520 Club,” former NBA point guard Jeff Teague backed the Warriors to win that game or series, crediting their floor spacing and shooting. Of course, there will undoubtedly be some fans who believe the Lakers team would come out on top.

Nevertheless, the debate between two of the best dynasties in league history is a fun discussion as the offseason draws near. Teague never played against the O’Neal and Bryant Lakers, although he did face both stars on multiple occasions. As such, his opinion likely carries some weight.

You can hear Teague’s reasoning for backing the Warriors by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Draymond Green takes blame for Warriors’ tough season

Draymond Green has accepted his share of the blame for the Golden State Warriors difficult season.

Draymond Green has accepted his share of the blame for the Golden State Warriors difficult season. The veteran forward served two separate suspensions for violating league policy. He also missed time due to injury. Without Green in the lineup, the Warriors struggled to find a settled rotation, forcing Steve Kerr to continually chop and change his starting five.

When speaking on a recent episode of the “Point Game” podcast with former All-Star guard John Wall, Green said he needs to ensure he’s available for a bigger portion of his team’s games moving forward.

“When I really take a step back and look at it from an honest advantage point, I gotta play,” Green said. “I gotta be out there. I played 55 games this year which is not nearly enough to help this team be successful. I played 55 games, [and] we’re 46-36. So if I don’t miss 27 games, we win half those games. Half of 27, we’re a 50-plus win team. It’s a totally different ball game. For me, it’s just understanding the stakes, understanding where my growth need to be, and being available for my team.”

Green is an elite defender. He also boasts an exceptional basketball IQ, which often gives Golden State an advantage on both sides of the floor. The Warriors are a much better team when Green is part of the rotation.

Green has three more years left on the four-year $100 million extension he signed last summer. He will likely be hoping he can help lead the Warriors to at least one more championship in that time. Of course, his best chance of doing that, is by staying out of trouble and being on the floor with his teammates.

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Draymond Green reacts to Luka Doncic’s game-winner vs. Timberwolves in Game 2

Draymond Green chimed in on Instagram after Luka Doncic’s clutch game-winner against the Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

After a fiery fourth-quarter appearance in Game 1 sealed the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Luka Doncic doubled down with another thrilling performance in Game 2.

After trailing by 18 in the second quarter, Doncic fueled the Mavs’ comeback in the second half. Doncic notched 32 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the field with five made 3-pointers. Doncic finished with a triple-double with 13 assists and 10 boards in Game 2.

Doncic wrapped up his performance with a game-winning shot over the Defensive Player of the Year. As the clock ticked down, Doncic danced around Rudy Gobert before shaking free for a deep 3-pointer over the big Frenchman. Following his go-ahead 3 with three seconds remaining, Doncic barked at Gobert down the floor as the Target Center went quiet.

Following Doncic’s shot to give the Mavs a commanding 2-0 lead over the Timberwolves, Draymond Green chimed in on Instagram with a reaction. Green called out the look on Jaden McDaniels’ face before Doncic pulled up for his 3-pointer over Gobert.

Via @NBCSWarriors on X:

https://x.com/NBCSWarriors/status/1794405388780962236

With the Mavericks already holding a 2-0 lead over the Timberwolves, the Western Conference finals shift to Dallas for two games starting on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Draymond Green calls out NBA’s decision to fine Jamal Murray

The Golden State Warriors veteran believes the NBA has different rules for different players.

Draymond Green has served two suspensions this season: The Golden State Warriors forward has been involved in his fair share of controversy. As such, it would appear the NBA has taken a zero-tolerance policy with his antics. That means other players may get away with something that could get Green ejected.

During a recent appearance on Shaquille O’Neal’s “The Big Podcast,” Green discussed the NBA fining Jamal Murray $100K for throwing a heat pack on the floor. Green noted he would likely have received a suspension for a similar transgression.

“I would have got suspended for the rest of the playoffs,” Green said. “I tried to hit Bron and got suspended for game five of the finals. … I got suspended for trying to make contact. And you throw and a heat pack on the court and that’s OK. If somebody steps on that heat pack and then gets hurt, is it a bigger deal? Or is it not? … The problem that I have oftentimes with the suspensions and different things is you don’t know what it is. … It’s all over the place.”

The Warriors will undoubtedly hope Green’s suspension issues are over. When he returned to the team’s rotation, he reminded the world why he’s such an important part of Steve Kerr’s team, especially when he developed on-court chemistry with Trayce Jackson-Davis. 

Whether Green feels treated differently than other players in the league or not, he must find ways to stay out of trouble and on the court. Because when he’s available and in the rotation, he’s one of the most impactful players on the roster.

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Draymond Green had a laughable take that NBA fines rob players of retirement wealth

Draymond Green’s complaints ignore one key fact: He doesn’t have to draw fines.

Draymond Green, a four-time NBA All-Star and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, played a key role in the Golden State Warriors dynasty of the 2010s.

In recent years, however, Green has mostly drawn headlines for less positive news. Frequently the subject of on-court disputes, both verbal and physical and involving both fellow NBA players and officials, Green has been fined around $900,000 in his career and has missed out on more than $3 million in salary due to his numerous suspensions.

Most notably, Green received an indefinite suspension from the league last December and ultimately missed 12 games.

While that’s certainly a fair bit of money, even for a player who averages a salary of $25 million a year on his current deal and has career earnings that exceed $250 million, it’s not financially devastating, by any means.

Green would beg to differ, however. On a recent appearance on “The Big Podcast” with Shaq,

“The fines to me don’t make sense,” Green said. “When you talk about as hard as we work to accumulate wealth, coming from situations that most people never make it out, and then you get fined the way we get fined, it’s actually not set up for us to be wealthy after we’re done playing.

“This job is not set up, the way we’re taxed, the way we’re fined… if I do something wrong, I lose $100,000. It took my mom four years when I was growing up to make $100,000. And I lose that in a night because what? The referee got mad at me, and he didn’t like what I said to him. So I lose $5,000 like that? Like, on a tech?”

Ignoring the obvious discrepancy in the amount of money Green’s malfeasance has cost him compared to what he’s made as a professional basketball player, his complaint neglects to acknowledge one important fact: No one is forcing him to draw fines.

And not all of his fines have stemmed from verbal altercations with officials, either, despite what he said in the clip. His indefinite suspension was the result of him striking Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, and he was suspended five games by the league a month prior when he was involved in a brawl that led to him putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.

Players struggling to maintain their wealth after their retirement from professional sports is not a new concept, and it’s a very real problem that is worth considering. But it’s hard to sympathize with Green, one of the most highly-paid NBA players of the last decade who continues to put himself in poor positions due to his own decisions.

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Draymond Green on why Kobe Bryant isn’t brought up in greatest of all time debate

The Warriors’ Draymond Green spelled out exactly why Kobe Bryant keeps getting disrespected in the greatest of all time debates.

When basketball fans debate who is the greatest player in NBA history, it usually comes down to two people: Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

For years, it seemed as if Jordan was the consensus winner of that debate, but in recent times, James has gradually gained more and more support.

At the same time, there are a few who have pointed out the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is never mentioned in such debates despite being recognized as one of the greatest ever and an absolute icon of the game.

On his podcast “The Big Podcast,” Bryant’s former Lakers superstar teammate Shaquille O’Neal asked Draymond Green why Bryant isn’t in the greatest of all time debate. Green said Bryant should be in the conversation, and he gave a very thoughtful and truthful explanation about why the Hall of Famer isn’t (at 34:18).

“Here’s why I think he’s not (in the conversation),” Green said. “Because, No. 1, he played with you and people hold that against him. No. 2, I think Kobe kind of fell in a weird time. And what I mean by that is Mike (Michael Jordan) left the league. When Mike left the league, y’all were dominating. And then you left the Lakers. When you left the Lakers, they had a few rough years, it wasn’t great.

“… They didn’t have great roster. Rudy Tomjanovich, that was that was an epic fail, like it just wasn’t great. And while it wasn’t going great, there was a young guy in Cleveland starting to make his hay. And so, in the years where Kob could have been dominating, which he was from a number’s standpoint, but they weren’t winning. In those years, Bron (James) was making his hay and starting to make his name, and is he the best player.”

O’Neal then said that he agreed with Green’s assessment and that he would like to hear Bryant’s name put in that conversation.

When Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls in 1999, O’Neal took over as the league’s most dominant player. By the 2000-01 season, Bryant was being called the best all-around player by people around the league, but he also became widely hated because of his perceived dourness and egotism, as well as his feud with O’Neal.

The two superstars won three straight NBA championships from 2000 to 2002, but O’Neal received the lion’s share of the credit. There is still a lingering misperception that Bryant merely rode O’Neal’s coattails and that L.A. would’ve been just as successful with any other All-Star guard in his place.

When James stormed into the league in 2003, the media instantly pushed the narrative that he was the greatest thing since sliced bread, even as his Cleveland Cavaliers teams didn’t come close to winning it all year after year. Even though Bryant upped his game after O’Neal left the Lakers in 2004 and eventually continued to win championships, many refused to give him his due.

These debates come down to much more than numbers. The raw numbers and analytics alone strongly favor James over Bryant, but many purists and students of the game will point out how clutch Bryant was and the fact that he needed to win in order to be OK with himself.

It is up for debate whether Bryant or James is the better player. But Bryant absolutely belongs on the highest pantheon of NBA greats alongside Jordan, James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, even if he was the worst player in that group.

Shaquille O’Neal, Draymond Green on 2000s Lakers vs. 2010s Warriors

Shaquille O’Neal and Draymond Green got into a debate about who would win a matchup between two of the greatest teams in recent years.

Perhaps the two greatest NBA teams of the 21st century so far have been the early 2000s Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors from several years ago.

Both squads won multiple world championships in succession, and, of course, those Lakers took home three Larry O’Brien Trophies in a row from 2000 to 2002.

Many have compared those early 2000s Lakers teams to other great squads that came before and after them. Shaquille O’Neal, who led them along with Kobe Bryant, engaged in a spirited debate with Draymond Green while on “The Big Podcast” about which team would win in a hypothetical matchup between O’Neal’s Lakers and Green’s Warriors (at 26:57).

While Green admitted no one on his team could’ve guarded O’Neal, he did outline a defensive scheme they could’ve used to play ball denial against the dominant center. That scheme would consist of Green fronting O’Neal just outside of the paint and Andrew Bogut guarding O’Neal from behind.

O’Neal pointed out that the 2000 Portland Trail Blazers, as well as the Sacramento Kings, employed that type of scheme. But Green believes it would’ve been more effective with him, something that O’Neal didn’t want to hear.

The Hall of Fame center then asked Green who would guard Bryant, and Green said Klay Thompson, who was a strong defender prior to his ACL and Achilles injuries. O’Neal responded with an awkward silence.

Such a matchup would be a contrast of styles. O’Neal’s Lakers played slowdown basketball, while the Warriors popularized modern-day up-tempo, pace-and-space basketball.

Perhaps it would at least somewhat resemble the 2002 Western Conference finals, in which Los Angeles barely beat a Kings team that was the first to play today’s variety of fast, 3-point heavy ball.