Draymond Green is fed up with the way networks approach the game of basketball. NBA shows nowadays rarely focus on the game, and instead, they give more attention to off-court issues and rumors that can get more ratings.
The Golden State Warriors star has had experiences on TV and fans really liked his inputs. However, given that he’s still a professional player, it won’t be common to watch him as an analyst unless the Warriors are out of action. Meanwhile, Green wants to see quality shows without any success.
Talking with Logan Murdock of The Ringer, the big man recalled the time he had to share the studio with former nemesis Charles Barkley. At the time, the 3x NBA champion was ready to ignore the legend and even throw hands if necessary.
One thought fluttered around in Green’s mind when he entered Techwood’s Studio C for TNT’s The Arena during the summer of 2020: Fuck Charles Barkley. Green was in the midtown Atlanta studio to condemn police brutality against Black folk alongside Cari Champion, Dwyane Wade, and Barkley, the guy who said he’d like to punch Green on live television.
“I’m not saying a fucking word to him,” Green said to himself, “I don’t like him and if we just have to come to blows, then we just got to come to blows.”
After his participation on TNT, he saw that platform as something positive. He decided to try to change the way NBA-related topics are covered once he finishes his basketball career. Green took a big shot at these shows, saying they only want to talk about polemic stuff instead of teaching people about the game.
But for the moment, Green had to keep his cool. The appearance was an audition for a life outside of basketball: NBA talking head, a platform he hoped to use to, in his words, change how the league is covered.
“All these shows that you turn on, they’re about basketball, but they’re not really about basketball,” he says. “It bothers me when I can’t turn on a TV show and learn about the game of basketball. The only thing I can learn is that Ben Simmons don’t want to play for the 76ers.”
He knows there’s more to do when it comes to covering the game. Draymond showed that when he explained plays for those who don’t know how important little details are for the game. However, he claims that’s not the common thing in the league.
“I think we live in a сlickbait world, so you may see a seven-second clip that drives what narrativе someone wants to push,” Green says. “And in today’s day and age, if you disagree with someone, you’re сastrated, you’re the worst person on earth.”
Obviously, Green isn’t happy with this. He knows something must change on how these shows cover things and he’s willing to offer his help to accomplish that. Meanwhile, he’s getting ready to face a new season with the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs will try to return to the top of the league following two difficult seasons.
Draymond even revealed he had lost interest in the game during those years, seeing how different things were for the Dubs, who played in five consecutive Finals and became the worst team in the league in 2020.
