Draymond Green challenged Kendrick Perkins’ basketball intelligence after the ESPN analyst called him a liability rather than an asset for the Golden State Warriors.
“I’m not even close to the player I once was. But Kendrick Perkins, the diffence between myself and big dummies like you is, I can think!” Green said on The Draymond Green Show.
“When your body wasn’t the same no more or as athletic as you once were, it looked a little different for you because you weren’t the smartest basketball player,” the Warriors forward added.
Perkins had questioned Green’s impact during the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season, arguing that discussions about the veteran had focused more on his altercations than his basketball.
“When’s the last time we discuss Draymond and brought up his basketball and not fighting? When you look at the start of this season, he’s been nonexistent. He’s done absolutely nothing for the Warriors! He’s been a liability more than an asset!” Perkins said.
Perkins’ criticism came after Green’s ejection against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, November 2. He received consecutive technical fouls two minutes into the third quarter after an altercation involving Khaman Maluach and Dillon Brooks.
Green defended the foul on Maluach as necessary to maintain his authority as a rim protector.
The ejection became a talking point after Golden State rallied for a 116-113 victory. Brandin Podziemski scored 20 points and said Green’s departure helped the Warriors find their defensive edge.
“I loved it. It fueled our team,” Podziemski said. “We didn’t have that edge to us to start the game.”
Golden State held Phoenix to 20 points in the fourth quarter, but Podziemski rejected the suggestion that the team was better without Green.
“Dre’s still our best defender. He’s still the team’s defensive anchor. Still one of the best in the league at it,” Podziemski said.
The Warriors improved to 5-3 with their fifth consecutive win after an 0-3 start. They host the Miami Heat on Thursday, November 5.
