Draymond Green has never been one to mince his words. The Golden State Warriors forward is known for being one of the most outspoken players in the NBA.
So, when the Warriors acquired Chris Paul, it wasn’t surprising to see certain sections of the fan base voice concerns. After all, Paul and the Warriors have a long and checkered history.
Buy Warriors TicketsWhen speaking to the media on Oct. 2, Green quickly pointed out the similarities between himself and Paul, noting how both are fierce competitors that sometimes get under the skin of their opponents.
“If you’ve ever watched Chris compete, he’s kind of an a******,” Green said on Monday. “He may say the same thing about me, and that’s OK. But he’s also one of the most competitive guys that I’ve played against over my 11 years in this league. I’m also an extremely competitive guy, and I’m not backing down from anyone. He’s not backing down from anyone.”
This season, part of the Warriors’ allure is how much veteran leadership they have within their roster. Adding Paul to the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Green has ensured enough experience, hunger and competitive fire to hang with any team in the league.
The Warriors fell short of their goal last season, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. After an overhaul of their supporting cast, Golden State looks to its veterans to lead it back to the NBA Finals, and we should expect both Paul and Green to play significant roles in that journey.