Amidst Warriors' Struggles And Steve Kerr Drama, Charles Barkley Roasts Draymond Green

Draymond Green has been through a lot these past few months. His team once again blew a hot start to the season, and now, he’s in the limelight after walking out on his head coach after a heated argument in the middle of a game.

So, naturally, Charles Barkley made fun of him.

During ESPN’s pre-game coverage of the NBA’s Christmas Day games, the “Inside the NBA” crew got to chat with Green, who once signed with Turner Sports as a part-time analyst. In the festive holiday spirit, the Golden State Warriors forward told the panel that he missed seeing them on TV. This comment, however, was a mistake.

“We’re going to have you back here once the playoffs start,” the Chuckster said.

Laughter broke out on the ESPN set, and Green himself was in stitches. Thankfully, Barkley’s longtime nemesis, Shaquille O’Neal, came to his rescue. “You’re gonna let him talk to you like that, Draymond?” O’Neal asked Green. This prompted the former Defensive Player of the Year to say, “We’ll bring our rings for sure, Shaq.”

Had this joke been said at any other time by any other loudmouthed analyst, Green might not have reciprocated with a jolly tone. Heading into their Christmas Day matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State stood at 15–15, a record that puts them right in the middle of the Western Conference standings. The Warriors, of course, are hoping that they have a better position when the regular season comes to an end, lest they go through another play-in tournament.

The team, however, will struggle to achieve that if they fail to resolve the melodrama on their bench. Earlier this week, Green infamously headed back to the locker room after exchanging words with Kerr during a third-quarter timeout in their matchup against the Orlando Magic.

The two tried to brush off the incident, saying things like “S*** happens” and “Not my finest hour.” Things will be a lot better, of course, if the Warriors start winning more games as the new year begins.

More wins will translate to better playoff chances. Translation: Green will have an even more solid comeback at Barkley in four months’ time.