By Justin GrassoShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberDraymond Green has grown fed up with Kenyon Martin’s criticism of him.
As the former No. 1 pick recently fired off what Green referred to as “shots,” the Golden State Warriors star felt he needed to respond to the one-time NBA All-Star.
“I don’t know how you continue to shoot at me, and you underachieved,” Green said on his podcast.
“Like, one All-Star? Make no mistake about it, you are an All-Star. I’ll give you that. A lot of people can’t say that they’re an All-Star. I give you that, you’re a one-time All-Star. That’s beautiful, but you must admit, to be the player that you were and defender that you believed you were, and not have a single All-Defensive Second Team? It's kind of an underachievement. Number one pick in the draft, a lot of people look for that guy to win Rookie of the Year [he] didn’t. All-Rookie team, though. First-Team All-Rookie, that’s an accolade that I can’t say I have. I didn’t really play much as a rookie, as a 35th pick. I can’t say I made any All-Rookie Team, so kudos. I tip my hat to that.”
...Green was admittedly hesitant to go at Martin for two reasons:
One, he doesn’t want to offer publicity to somebody who might be baiting him. Two, he wants to keep it respectful—especially when it comes to former players he looks up to.
“I've rooted for this guy for a very long time. So I'm not, I'm not a wishy washy guy,” Green explained.
“Just because somebody says something, I'm not just gonna jump out there and be like, ‘Oh man, like, I got to respond or forget all of that.’ Like, nah, I stand on what I believe in, and what I've believed in is like… I supported that guy, so I'm not just gonna jump off the rails and attack him or be responding and getting in these back and forth because of the respect and love that I had growing up as a kid. The shots just keep coming!”
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Martin’s criticism took aim at Green’s enforcer persona for the Warriors. The quote that went viral was Martin calling Green a “fake tough guy.” While Martin added that he has “respect” for Green’s career and what he’s done for the Warriors’ dynasty, he stood by his take.
Green just felt the need to respond.
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