Stephen A. Smith rips Draymond Green after Warriors’ loss to Nuggets – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

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Draymond Green can talk the talk, but Stephen A. Smith wants to see the Warriors forward walk the walk, too.

Green infamously proclaimed that Golden State would win the NBA Finals this season after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, but one bad loss to the shorthanded Denver Nuggets on Monday night put things into perspective for the ESPN analyst.

“My eyes are on Draymond Green. Who’s the person who went on national television during All-Star Weekend and guaranteed a championship? Who’s that? That wasn’t Steph. That wasn’t Jimmy. That’s Draymond,” Smith said Tuesday morning on “First Take.” “… We know what a point-forward he is, we know how great he is at setting Steph Curry up, getting him the basketball, pushing the ball up the court, running their offense. We know how valuable Dray is on that level. But if this brother hits his 3s when he is open, that changes the dynamic of everything for the Golden State Warriors.

“That’s why the guarantee matters. Because when he’s making shots, that’s a profound positive impact for the Golden State Warriors. I’m not saying you change your strategy because he’s not a shooter. But if you don’t guard him, and you leave him open, and he hits those shots, it changes everything because then they can upset somebody in the Western Conference.

“So that man that opened his mouth and guaranteed a championship, it’s literally on him. Because I know what Jimmy Butler’s going to do. We know what Playoff Jimmy is all about. We know what Steph Curry is all about. But if Draymond hits shots, it’s a different ball game. But he’s got to do it. So it’s on him, a lot of it.”

“Who’s the person who went on national television during All-Star Weekend and guaranteed a championship?” 😳 @stephenasmith CALLS OUT Draymond Green after the Warriors’ loss to the Nuggets 👀 pic.twitter.com/BqQftlufDV

— First Take (@FirstTake) March 18, 2025

In 54 games (52 starts) this season, Green is averaging 9.2 points on 43.6-percent shooting from the field and 33.5 percent from 3-point range, with 6.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks in 29…

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Publish date : 2025-03-18 19:01:00

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