New TNT commentator Draymond Green has been outspoken about nearly every basketball-related topic that exists. While the Golden State Warriors forward has made his thoughts known on this year's NBA Playoffs, he's now moved on to another hot-button issue.
Green now has his sniper scope aimed at the league office for giving out excessive fines, via Shaquille O'Neal's The Big Podcast.
“The (NBA) fines to me don't make sense,” Green said. “You know, when you talk about as hard as we work to accumulate wealth, coming from situations that most people never make it out, and then you get fined the way we get fined, it's actually not set up for us to be wealthy after we're done playing.”
With NBA players being some of the richest people in the world, this statement may come off as tone-deaf to the average person. However, the four-time champion elaborated on his hot take.
“This job is not set up,” he continued. “The way we're taxed, the way we're fined. You know, you hear about all these programs. Like, this program this, this program…That s**t is to cover everybody a**. This program is to teach this guy this. But if I do something wrong, I lose $100,000. Man, it took my mom four years when I was growing up to make $100,000. And I lose that in a night because…What?”
To be fair, Green has had several controversial incidents, like punching Jordan Poole in practice. On the other hand, though, some league punishments can be excessive.
“The referee got mad at me and he didn't like what I said to him, so I lose $5,000 like that? Like, on a tech?”
Is Green avoiding accountability, or does he have a point?
The Warriors legend may be the wrong messenger for the right message
There's no denying that NBA referees have an accountability issue. Sometimes they deserve to be heckled for their missteps, especially in game-changing situations. Teams' entire seasons can come down to a few missed calls, and it's wrong to fine players for talking back to them if they were the ones who got the call wrong. At the very least, the referees should also get punished.
However, considering Green's history of having conflict with so many people around the league, including Poole, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic, it's unlikely he'll be taken seriously as a voice for the players. Nurkic has even questioned Green's character on several occasions, via ESPN.
“It's sad. He didn't learn anything,” Nurkic said after the two's on-court spat in February. “Just a matter of time. He's going to hit somebody else again. Take back everything I said. He don't deserve a chance.”
Nurkic had previously extended an olive branch after Green hit him during a game, but the pair never made peace with each other.
While the NBA certainly isn't perfect, it may be in Green's best interest to show the basketball world that he's changed his ways before calling out the league's issues. Right now, his persona may be too unlikable to get many people on his side.
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