Smart and aggressive, Draymond Green always attempts to take advantage of the weaknesses of the opposition. He doesn’t really differ much from other interviewers.
The Warriors power forward worked All-Star Weekend in his side job as a TNT reporter, not be confused with his side job as a podcaster. That meant he was responsible for in-game interviews for the alternate, “Inside The All Star Game” broadcast featuring Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal riffing, squabbling, eating snacks, and occasionally describing the game action.
When it came time to interview the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, Green seized the opportunity to tweak his rival over his December comments that he was “fine in the West.”
Malika Andrews: "Who do you look at around the league as you're studying and say, 'We're gonna have to run through them?'"
Ja Morant: "Celtics"
Malik Andrews: "No one in the West."
Ja Morant: "Nah. I'm fine in the West."
(h/t @_Talkin_NBA )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 21, 2022
Like many times that a member of the Grizzlies talks trash, the comments backfired. After Memphis went on an 11-game win streak, they lost eight out of nine games and fell five games behind the Denver Nuggets in the West. Naturally, Draymond asked him about it.
Draymond Green asked Ja if he’s still fine in the West😂😂😂😂https://t.co/vpJErz1047
— Formula🌵 (@1realFormula) February 20, 2023
“Are you still fine in the West?” Draymond asked Morant, adding, “And also, which teams are you looking at and thinking, that team has to be reckoned with?”
Morant gave a diplomatic answer, mentioning Kevin Durant and the new-look Phoenix Suns, along with the Warriors. Ultimately, Ja stuck to his guns, as Draymond laughed and said, “Still fine in the West. gotta love it.”
The Grizzlies star probably expected the “Fine in the West” line of questioning. Draymond’s not the first to ask about it, though he surely did it in front of the largest audience. What he might not have expected was Green needling him about his ever-present father, Tee Morant, who trains Ja and also regularly beefs with opposing players and even fans like Shannon Sharpe.
Draymond asked Ja if he was going to continue working with his father, with the tone of his question clearly implying that an NBA All-Star should have moved on from relying on his parent so heavily.
Draymond Green asking Ja Morant "You ever gonna stop bringing your dad around so much?" live on TV is hilarious
— patreon.com/airbudspod (@airbudspod) February 20, 2023
On Saturday night during the dunk contest, Green openly challenged Morant to do the dunk contest next year.
"Question, next year can we have like, Ja Morant, Zion?"
Draymond calling out some of the NBA's best for not doing the dunk contest. pic.twitter.com/DrqHjPxccQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 19, 2023
That’s the problem Morant ran into getting into a war of words with Draymond. He has a microphone a lot more often than Morant, and he’s very good – professionally good – at being entertaining and critical on television. While this probably stung Morant, at least Draymond didn’t ask him if he brought any lasers to Salt Lake City.
Source: https://www.goldenstateofmind.com
