Is Draymond Green Acting Erratically Because He Is Not at His Best Anymore Like Charles Barkley Suggested?

Draymond Green has been indefinitely suspended by the NBA after he clashed with Jusuf Nurkić recently. This was not the first time this season Green has been suspended. A few weeks back, he was given a 5-game ban for putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock. This time, the league has given him an open-ended suspension because of his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts“. The 4x NBA champion is infamous for his physicality and has been involved in multiple altercations over the years. However, NBA legend Charles Barkley feels the forward has been out of control recently because he is not at his best anymore. Is Barkley right?

Charles Barkley is one of the most hilarious basketball analysts ever. But do not let this fool you. The Hall of Famer was one of the most fierce and mean players during his time in the NBA. With his incredible physical prowess, he had no fear of going up against anyone. Barkley recently talked about his struggles during the twilight of his career in an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show while discussing Draymond Green’s actions.

Draymond Green’s concerning actions are similar to Charles Barkley’s in Houston

The 1993 NBA MVP joined the Houston Rockets in 1996 in the hopes of winning his first title. However, it did not go according to plan. Also, Barkley was nearing the end of his career and was not at his best anymore. This frustrated him so much that he lashed out at his teammate.

Barkley recounted, “I was humiliated but it was because I couldn’t play anymore, so I was playing dirty. I see the same thing with Draymond. He is not the same player and he’s frustrated. You have to grow old gracefully because he’s accomplished a lot in this game. But when you can’t play anymore, it’s very very frustrating, and that’s what you see now from him.”

Draymond Green is infamous for his physical fouls on opponents. So far, the NBA has suspended the 33-year-old six times in his career. However, the last four penalties came just in 2023. It looks like the altercation with Jordan Poole was a sign of things to come, which was ignored by many. During training camp in 2022, Green and Poole clashed which ended in Draymond punching the young star while he was least expecting it. As the video clip of the altercation was leaked, it stirred major controversy.

However, the Warriors did not suspend Green. It raised a lot of eyebrows because the franchise previously suspended him for a verbal altercation with Durant. It was also reported that Poole was ready to move forward which played a part in the team’s decision. A few days later, the guard signed a four-year, $140 million extension with the Dubs.

While the team tried to move on, they looked disjointed on the court. Eventually, the reigning champions were eliminated in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers. During this run, Green was first suspended one game for his 16th technical foul and received another one-game ban for his altercation with Domantas Sabonis in the first round.

Draymond Green’s decline

Draymond Green is not revered for his offensive game. The forward has averaged over 10 points per game only four times in his 12-year NBA career so far. His highest points average of 14 points came during the 2015-16 season. However, the Warriors do not require him to score a lot. They have stars like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and so forth to shoulder the scoring. There has always been a debate that Green would be just another player in the league if he played for any other team. Notably, after the recent altercation, Rudy Gobert suggested that Draymond would do anything to not be on the court without Curry.

Initially, Green carved out a spot on the team with his versatility. Despite being listed as only 6’6″, he could defend bigger players. Also, he could rebound, had the ability to pick a pass, and score when open. This allowed the team to use a smaller and quicker lineup, which helped them massively. He was good on the defensive end and won the DPOY in 2017. His passing ability meant he could play point forward. He did not have to thread the needle with his passes every time given Steve Kerr’s plays and their stars’ off-the-ball movements.

With incredible shooters like Curry and Thompson on the team, Green’s assist numbers looked good. In his best scoring season, Green averaged 9.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. As years went by, Draymond became a leader on the team alongside Curry and Thompson.

After the team’s third title in 2018, Green’s scoring average has dangled between 7 to 8 points per game. However, it is just a small drop from 11 points per game in the title-winning campaign. Similarly, there has been a small yet consistent drop in his rebounds, assists, and steals numbers as well. This season, these numbers have dropped down to 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 0.4 steals. However, he is averaging an improved 9.7 points per game.

Is Charles Barkley correct?

It is clear that Draymond Green has been declining for a while now. Notably, there were doubts about his future with Golden State after the 2022-23 title. It was alleged that Jordan Poole made some comments about the Warriors’ reluctance to accept Green’s contract demands, which triggered the veteran to punch him. If true, it looks like the guard struck a nerve.

WATCH THIS STORY – Charles Barkley Urges the Warriors to Beat Adam Silver in Wiping Out Draymond Green’s ‘Unnecessary Evil’ Tactics

Irrespective of that, Charles Barkley could be true about his take on Draymond considering Green’s slump along with the four of his six suspensions in 2023. But we would never know for sure whether Green is acting out of control because he is not at his best anymore. However, we can say without any doubt that he has been on a decline and it could be frustrating for anyone, be it a superstar or a role player on a dynasty.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.