Draymond Green shared an amusing yet humbling story on the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Show’ about the time he tried to trash talk NBA legend Kobe Bryant, only to find himself put in his place.
“So growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, there’s one way to play basketball. You have to talk. And so when I come into the league, I come in and you know what, I remember I walk in the locker room the first day, I’m sitting next to Steph and Klay, and I’m like, yeah, we’re gonna talk trash to everybody.”
“And they was like, man, you on your own, we don’t really do that. I’m like, y’all better talk trash with me or we’re going to have a problem. And so I go out being the dumb rookie that I am. And I try to trash talk Kobe Bryant.”
“Now, mind you, I get in the game. I probably played 24 seconds that game. I get in the game for a defensive stop to take us into overtime and regulation. And you know, most people run a play, like you pin down here, you pin down there, we’re trying to get somebody over.”
“Kobe just flashed to the ball. And so he flashed to the ball and it’s me and Kobe, mano a mano, and I lock up, I get to sitting down. You know, we know where the shot Kobe going to, shimmy fade away over the left shoulder, he missed.”
“I said, yeah, let’s go baby, we’re going overtime. He said, come on young fella, that ain’t have nothing to do with you, I just missed.”
Green, known for his brash and competitive nature, explained that growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, trash talking was a fundamental part of playing basketball. When he joined the NBA, he carried this attitude into the Golden State Warriors‘ locker room.
Green, eager to establish his presence, turned to his teammates, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, encouraging them to adopt his trash-talking style. However, Curry and Thompson, known for their quieter demeanor, politely declined, leaving Green to carry on alone.
In his rookie year, Green found himself in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, matched up against Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest players of all time. Despite having limited minutes on the court, Green was determined to make an impact. As the game neared the end of regulation, Green was subbed in for a crucial defensive stop.
During this critical moment, the Lakers didn’t run any elaborate play. Instead, Kobe simply flashed to the ball. It was just Green and Kobe in a one-on-one showdown. Green, confident in his defensive abilities, got low, ready to contest Kobe’s famous shimmy fadeaway over the left shoulder.
Remarkably, Kobe missed the shot. Green, feeling triumphant, celebrated internally, thinking he had successfully defended against the legendary player and helped force the game into overtime.
However, Kobe, known for his sharp wit and psychological edge, quickly humbled Green. As they walked off the court, Kobe turned to Green and nonchalantly remarked, “Come on young fella, that ain’t have nothing to do with you, I just missed.”
This brief yet impactful exchange left a lasting impression on Green. It was a stark reminder of Kobe’s unparalleled skill and confidence, but also a lesson in humility for Green.
Despite his defensive efforts, Kobe made it clear that he was in control, and his miss was merely a rare occurrence rather than a result of Green’s defense. The encounter underscored the profound respect and mental toughness that defined Kobe Bryant, and served as a pivotal learning moment for the young Draymond Green.
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