Draymond Green has never been shy about speaking his truth, and in a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, the four-time NBA champion took direct aim at what he sees as a long-standing problem in NBA discourse — the disrespect from legends of the past toward today’s generation.
Draymond Green: “People say you must respect each era, but the past eras don’t respect this era.”
Baron Davis: “I don’t think that’s true.”
Draymond Green: “S**t, me. You don’t see some of the things these guys say?”
Baron Davis: “The respect from the old is really, do the young dudes fuck with us? Do they know who we are? That’s why you get a lot of hate from the older generation—because they just want to be kept alive.”
“One era always thinks that the other era is sorry, until you leave the game and have an appreciation for the talent that you had to play against.”
Draymond Green: “I disagree in the fact that, no, like these eras don’t respect us. Like, I’ve seen several guys talk over and over and over again—not in a positive light.”
“I don’t think that respect is passed down to us from the other generations, but I think people are quick to say, ‘Oh, you got to respect them because they came before.’ I don’t agree with that.”
Baron Davis: “You absolutely have to… absolutely respect the people who came before you.”
Draymond Green: “My respect is earned, and what you did to somebody else don’t necessarily earn you respect.”
“Just because you played before me does not mean you deserve respect. I’m sorry, but God had in his plan for you to be born before me, and you just deserve respect because of that? Nah, my mama ain’t raise me that way. Respect is earned.”
And Draymond isn’t alone in feeling this way. Over the last few years, there’s been a noticeable uptick in criticism from former players like Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson — not just toward Green but toward many modern players.
Barkley has regularly called out today’s stars for being “too soft,” blaming the LeBron-Curry era for “ruining” the All-Star Weekend. Shaq frequently questions the toughness and mentality of younger players.
Magic Johnson recently dismissed Anthony Edwards’ claim that modern players are more skilled by suggesting he hadn’t “done his homework.” And perhaps most disrespectfully, Oscar Robertson said Draymond Green “doesn’t do anything on a basketball court.”
The truth? That narrative is not only tired — it’s flat-out wrong.
While old heads love to reminisce about hand-checking and physicality, no serious basketball observer would deny that the modern NBA features the most skilled group of players in league history.
Guards, wings, and even centers are shooting efficiently from 30 feet. Ball-handling and playmaking are at an all-time high. Today’s athletes train year-round, use advanced analytics, and push the boundaries of physical science to maximize their potential.
Draymond’s critique isn’t about erasing the past. It’s about pushing back on a toxic standard where legends feel entitled to talk down on a generation that’s surpassed them in terms of raw talent and global influence.
When LeBron James claimed Giannis Antetokounmpo could score 250 points in the 70s, he got cooked. But when the older guard insults the entire current generation, labeling them as “pansies,” “soft,” or “unwatchable,” it’s treated as gospel.
The disconnect between eras has never felt wider, and Green’s comments tap into a growing sentiment among active players. They know the work they’ve put in. They see the double standard. And they’re no longer staying silent. As Green put it — respect must be mutual. And in 2025, today’s stars aren’t bowing down to outdated narratives.
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