Draymond Green goes for the jugular in response to Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks
In the change-happy modern NBA, you’re often only as strong as your weakest defensive link. The Memphis Grizzlies learned Wednesday that this also applies to trash talk.
For reasons increasingly hard to pin down, Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks again tried to rekindle the team’s rivalry with the Golden State Warriors by going after Draymond Green in an ESPN interview published Friday.
Trash talk between the two teams has been common, but it hasn’t gone Memphis’ way so far. The Grizzlies were eliminated by the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals last year and have lost both games to the team this season, to say nothing of their other issues right now.
Brooks still had no problem speaking his mind:
“I don’t like Draymond at all,” he says. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him somewhere else, you wouldn’t know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, he plays hard, he knows all aspects of their defense. I think that’s why they like him out there.”
In that ESPN article, Green reportedly laughed and declined to answer when asked about Brooks’ remarks. As it turns out, he expected to respond via “The Draymond Green Show,” and it went right down his throat.
Here’s a quick sampling of Green’s messages to Brooks as he went through the interview on his show:
“I honestly wouldn’t want a team that beats me all the time.”
“You were a little kid in high school watching us win championships. You should be glad you got to witness that.”
“You talk a lot now, so if you had four rings, of course, you’d talk a lot more. Four stars? You’d probably talk a little more. Defensive Player of the Year? You’d probably talk more. Two Medals Olympic gold? You’d definitely talk because that would mean you’d beat Team USA, and we all know how that goes.”
The story continues
“If you’ve ever wondered why the Memphis Grizzlies aren’t ready to compete for a championship, look no further than this idiot right here. They’re actually depending on this guy to help them win a championship. And he says the game his is cool. Honestly, it shows how little you know about basketball. And yet you run around talking about a dynasty? The dynasty starts behind you, not with you.”
“I’m trying to figure out why they like you in Memphis. Or do you like them in Memphis? That’s a better question. I’m not sure your teammates like you. But I can tell you why I like them better. [in Golden State]. When you contribute the way I have in four championships, they tend to like you.”
Dillon Brooks doesn’t like Draymond Green. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
It’s easy to win the trash talk battle when you have four rings and the other has zero, but as the Grizzlies are now showing, it’s also very difficult to win a ring.
As luck would have it, the Grizzlies and Warriors are scheduled to meet for the third time this season on Thursday, with the Grizzlies still missing Ja Morant. At least the Green and Brooks battles should be entertaining.
