In the most recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green launched a pointed critique of the Memphis Grizzlies, specifically targeting head coach Taylor Jenkins and rookie center Zach Edey.
As noted by Jonah Dylan of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, Green expressed his displeasure with Jenkins, calling him “too emotional” and accusing him of setting a poor example for his team.
This critique stemmed from Jenkins’ comments following a foul committed by Green on Edey, which was later upgraded to a flagrant 1. Green took issue with Jenkins’ reaction, which he felt was overly dramatic.
The player’s frustration was evident when he said, “(Jenkins was) crying about a little take foul on the big man (Edey), so what he’s going to do in turn is cry. He’s supposed to protect Ja Morant. You’re setting him up to where Ja Morant’s going to be protecting him.
“He’s a big man. If (Jenkins) didn’t come out crying for his big man, who then came out crying, he’s big enough to possibly have fooled people that he could be a little tough. And now nobody believes him.”
The Warriors veteran’s remarks imply that Jenkins’ emotional response to the foul undermines his authority as a coach and his credibility within the league.
By reacting with what Green perceived as excessive outrage, Jenkins, in Green’s view, may have weakened his standing as a tough leader and inadvertently created an environment where his players, like Ja Morant, might feel compelled to defend him rather than the other way around.
Green also suggested that Jenkins’ display of emotion could have fooled others into thinking he was tough, but in reality, it made him appear less credible.
In addition, the Warriors forward’s comments reflect a broader criticism of how Jenkins manages his team’s image and toughness, implying that if Jenkins hadn’t reacted so emotionally, he might have been able to maintain a stronger and more authoritative presence.
For Green, this incident highlighted how important it is for a coach to maintain composure and lead by example, especially in high-stakes or heated moments during games.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said that rookie center Zach Edey would be considered “week-to-week” as a result of his ankle injury:https://t.co/lb8Zd0weRo
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 21, 2024
