In a surprise guest appearance for GQ, NBA veteran Patrick Beverley sat down for a segment of ‘Actually Me,’ where athletes and other American celebrities go undercover to react to fan discourse. After the subject of NBA trash talkers came up, Beverley provided his own top five list, which unsurprisingly included himself.
“Draymond for sure. Kevin Durant for sure… I’m definitely somewhere up there. Russ is up there…” Apparently, Mavericks star Luka Doncic also falls into this group despite not having the reputation for it. “Low key, Luka Doncic. Low key as hell.” Trash talk is a normal and expected component of NBA competitions but some take to it more than others.
Many players prefer to stay quiet to avoid any possibility of becoming a distraction for their team, but others can use words to ignite the intensity on the court and tip the scales in their team’s favor. Patrick Beverley is rather notorious for being a source of trash talk, but he’s far from the only one who likes to stir the pot during games.
Draymond Green Is The King Of Trash Talk
Out of all the players called out by Beverley, Draymond Green’s inclusion was the least surprising. Over the years, Green has built up a reputation for toeing the line and has fully embraced his persona as a “villain” of sorts for the Warriors.
“We started playing with heart and intensity,” said Green after a particularly brutal verbal assault against the Pelicans last season. “That first quarter and a half they punked us and we were down 20. It takes a real one to talk when you down 20. I was able to get my guys going and they started doing what they do so I could do what I do.” Draymond’s role with the Warriors has led to a shady and controversial legacy in the NBA, but it’s hard to deny that it hasn’t been to great benefit for the Warriors, who have leaned on Green’s fiery personality to energize their dynasty. Of course, trash talk can also go too far. Besides some of Draymond’s recent mistakes on the court, we can look at the Grizzlies as the perfect example of where trash-talking can go wrong.
Is Luka Doncic A Good Trash Talker?
On the surface, Luka Doncic doesn’t look like a heavy chirper on the court but Doncic himself has admitted in the past that trash-talking is what helps keep him going during games. According to a statement he made in April of last year, trash talk makes the game more fun and it’s a normal part of healthy competition.
“I think it’s still there. I think it’s always gonna be there,” said Luka. “In the NBA, there’s always talking… For me that just makes the game fun. Guys that are competitive, I’m very competitive. I think it’s always gonna be there, especially in the playoffs, it just makes the game fun.”
Sadly, Doncic has yet to back up his trash talk with success in the postseason and it’s only by winning in that scene that will Luka instill true fear and respect in his opponents. Still, to be included in the company of Draymond Green and Kevin Durant means that he’s doing something right and nobody should be surprised if he proves the doubters wrong in the 2023-24 season.
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