Draymond Green, the fiery forward for the Golden State Warriors, didn’t mince words when discussing his new teammate, Chris Paul, who joined the Dubs this offseason via trade.
While the two NBA veterans have faced off in intense playoff battles over the years, Green emphasized that their on-court clashes were a result of their shared competitive spirit.
During the Warriors’ Media Day press conference, Green provided insights into his evolving relationship with Paul and their common goal of winning an NBA championship together.
“I didn’t know Chris at all outside of competing with him,” Green candidly admitted. “If you’ve ever watched Chris compete, he’s kind of an a**hole. You may say the same thing about me, and that’s okay.
“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. That will bring some clashes, and it has brought plenty of them.”
Green’s description of Paul as “kind of an a**hole” highlights the intensity of their past encounters and the competitiveness that has defined their careers.
He acknowledged the animosity that developed as they competed relentlessly for championships, especially over the last eight years, during which both players have been at the forefront of the NBA’s most significant moments.
Green continued, “When you’re competing for that at the level that we’ve competed for, sometimes it brings hate because we’re going after the same thing. That definitely brought animosity between us.
“But look at the runs we’ve been on. Houston was right at the center of that, the Clippers were right at the center of that, and so was Phoenix. Over the 11 years I’ve been in the league, we’ve competed at a championship level for eight of them. Chris Paul has been at the center of six of those years.”
Despite their history of animosity, Green expressed his commitment to moving forward and forging a successful partnership with Chris Paul.
He praised Paul’s work ethic, leadership, and professionalism, highlighting the opportunity for personal growth and learning from a veteran of Paul’s caliber.
“I’m excited about it. We’re growing fast together,” Green remarked. “It’s been an incredible start.”
