Draymond Green is experiencing a shift in perception among his own fans.
The Golden State Warriors player joined Fred VanVleet on the “Unguarded” podcast this week. During their discussion, Green, amidst trade rumors ahead of the February 5 deadline, directed a blunt message at Warriors fans who want him to leave.
“I see fans saying different things now, like Warriors fans saying, ‘It’s time to get him out of here,’” said Green. “To the real Warriors fans who don’t feel that way, thank you. I appreciate it.
“To those who do feel that way, you were a loser before I got here,” Green added. “Stone-cold forever losers. So if you say that, it makes sense to me. You’ve never been here. You don’t know how to appreciate something fully because you’ve never experienced it.”
Green, who joined the Warriors in 2012, is referencing the team’s struggles in previous decades. At the time of his draft, the Warriors had won just one playoff series in over 20 years. However, after Green’s arrival, the team became a dynasty, making six NBA Finals appearances and winning four championships.
Critics often argue that players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were more vital to the team’s success and that Green’s performance has declined. This season, he is averaging 8.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game with shooting splits of 42/32/71. Given his recent behavior, some Warriors fans feel it’s time to move on.
Now 36 years old, Green has a $27.7 million player option for next season, but a trade could still happen before the summer. It appears that Green may sense his time with the team is coming to a close, which could explain his recent outburst.