New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy has pushed back against Draymond Green’s criticism of today’s NBA, saying he still finds the game exciting.
Murphy, speaking on The Kevin O’Connor Show, disagreed with Green’s assessment that the league lacks substance.
“I don’t agree with that. I think the game’s fun. I still have fun watching basketball; I have fun playing basketball,” Murphy said, via HoopsHype.
Green had voiced his concerns after a recent matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, calling the current NBA “boring” compared to previous eras.
The Golden State Warriors forward praised LeBron James for still treating the game like a chess match, something he believes is missing in today’s league.
Murphy acknowledged that the weeks leading up to the All-Star break can be slow but pointed out that the trade deadline significantly boosted fan engagement.
“The trade deadline made ratings go up a lot, so people are more intrigued and tuned in,” Murphy said.
Green, a four-time NBA champion, believes the game has become overly reliant on speed and three-point shooting at the expense of tactical play. “It’s just who can run faster, who can hit more 3s, it’s no substance,” Green told reporters.
Murphy, however, pushed back against the idea that modern basketball lacks excitement. “The NBA being boring in general? I don’t know about that for sure,” Murphy said.
The 24-year-old is having a breakout season, averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
Despite his strong individual performances, the Pelicans have struggled, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 13-42 record.
