Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has emerged as a top figure in sports media. While the multi-time NBA champion and All-Star is striving to win one more ring alongside Steph Curry, he continues to build the foundation for his post-basketball career.
Never afraid of controversy, Green recently spoke out on the latest issue with a familiar adversary: Stephen A. Smith.
Draymond Green Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For Poor Relationship With NBA Players
Green blasted Smith on his podcast, while addressing the issues many of his peers have with Smith. Green said “A lot of players having a great relationship with you were facts. Until you started to disrespect players as if you were a player.”
Green added “You get upset about the very thing that you do. You’re not in these locker rooms so no one can say anything back.”
Draymond Green says the problem he has with Stephen A is he disrespects NBA players as if he is a player himself:
“You very much so right up there at the top… A lot of players having a relationship with you, were facts. Until you started to disrespect players as if you were a… pic.twitter.com/qc0f4rJdq0
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 12, 2026
Green recently spoke to notable sports media figure Jemele Hill and questioned whether Smith should still refer to himself as a journalist. Smith issued a strong response, setting the stage for the latest controversy between Green and Smith.
Green acknowledged his previously strong relationship with Smith and the advice and mentorship Smith provided while Green was attempting to break into the sports media industry.
However, Green expressed agitation at Smith continuing to mention his past mistakes, such as getting suspended for choking Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and hitting then Phoenix Suns and current Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić.
One of Green’s primary points is that Smith doesn’t make himself available to traditional journalists for feedback on what he says, which, according to Green, is disrespectful at times.
Smith’s latest battle involved a conflict with now-Philadelphia 76ers wing Jaylen Brown. Brown said he’d stop streaming if Smith retired, prompting Smith to make vague references to behind-the-scenes issues between Brown and the Boston Celtics organization and fellow star Jayson Tatum.
Green didn’t like the way Smith handled the situation with Brown, and said Smith is sensitive to criticism, something that Smith has called current NBA players like Kevin Durant.
Smith has generated millions of engagement views with his animated responses when his name is mentioned, and Green believes there’s potential hypocrisy involved when he does that, but gets defensive when NBA players react strongly to what he says about them.
Green believes the lack of availability could also lead to more situations like the infamous sideline confrontation between Smith and NBA icon LeBron James. Green says Smith shouldn’t be surprised when players confront him wherever he is, since he’s no longer in traditional spaces to speak with them.
The rocky relationship between Smith and NBA stars seems unlikely to change anytime soon, based on Green’s latest comments.
