In the inaugural episode of the Draymond Green Show, host Draymond Green sits down with former NBA point guard Baron Davis to discuss Davis’s decision to attend UCLA instead of Duke, his belief that Coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) deliberately snubbed him from the 2020 USA Basketball Olympic tryouts, and broader frustrations with the selection process. Davis explains his loyalty to Los Angeles, his desire to be a role model for the next generation, and how he felt overlooked despite a strong college record. The conversation shifts to Kyrie Irving’s recent comments about the Olympic roster, the importance of chemistry and "glue" players, and Draymond’s own disappointment at not being invited to the Olympic pool, especially after winning two gold medals. Both guests argue that the selection should prioritize role-specific excellence over popularity. The segment ends with a sponsored DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement.
Chapters
Welcome to the brand new Draymond Green Show YouTube channel. Hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any of our content. And so, and now, but then speaking of navigating that, navigating the Crips, navigating the Bloods, just growing up in this, then why the choice to stay home and go to UCLA?
For that reason specifically, like, you know, I wanted to go to Duke. I thought Duke was gonna be like, a place where I can get outta LA, I don't have to worry about none of this shit, and I can go hoop. And I wind up being like one of the greatest hoopers ever. You know what I mean? Or the responsibility was like, yo, you got young Pooh, you got young Trev, you got, you know, all these young PGs that's coming up in LA and they going to Artesia and Crenshaw and losing, you know what I mean? It's like, man, they need to see me. You feel what I'm saying? Yeah. And I need to stay connected 'cause I need to revamp this whole UCLA as point guard university. And so that's what it was. It was like, where do I wanna live for the rest of my life? Where do I wanna be comfortable? And at that point it was like, all right, dude, I wanna, you know, do I wanna be the top 5 greatest point guard to ever play? Or do I wanna walk in a room and niggas be like, damn, that nigga cold, I can't fuck with him. Do you think you can fuck with him? No, no, no, no, no. You know what I mean? Yeah. And so I'd rather put on for my city And I was just thinking about like the next generation. And it's like, man, if they can come watch me play, how I've been coming here getting recruited, man, that's, I'm giving tickets to all the little homies to come, you know, while we rock out at UCLA.
So when you look back on that decision, do you think it ultimately panned out the way that you wanted it to?
I mean, you know, I don't regret it. I always say like, there's always a what if moment. Like if I would've went to Duke, I don't know if I would've went to Kansas, I'd have been a different type of player and shit. You know what I mean? But if I would've went to Duke, what that would've done? You know what I mean? 'Cause I just, I'd have been in and out. You feel what I'm saying? I'd been in and out, all the East Coast love, all the flavor, you know what I mean? Yeah. All that shit in my game fit. With all that was cracking and I would've just had to focus on basketball. You know what I mean? But who knew, like deep down in my heart, I always felt, you know, Ricky Price went there, he got hated on. Cherokee Parks wound up getting hated on. Yeah. Chris Burgess, hated on. So I was like, man, I'm from LA. And it's something about like the LA dude that do that and where I'm from. Like they think I'm a nice dude, but when I snap, like they gonna send me home. Yeah. You know? And so I always felt like Coach K had like, would hate on me. You know what I mean? And I was right about that. You know what I mean? So I wasn't tripping.
Why do you say you was right about that?
'Cause he hated on me.
When?
How? During the Olympic tryouts. I was coming off a 23-8 and didn't get a tryout. So, I feel that bad. That's big hate. You know what I mean? Bro, I can't get a tryout? Like, name 30 people better than me. Okay, name 12. Name 4 guards better than me. "Okay, cool. Now, can I practice against them?" Now ask them niggas that. All right, enough said. You know what I mean? I don't gotta try out. But Coach K a hater. I ain't tripping.
Do you think that stems from you not going to Duke and going to UCLA?
Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. That's all. He wrote about it in his book.
Oh.
Yeah, I always had, like, that was my whole, And they can blame it on like the USA team and shit like that. But every sorry, every motherfucker that was in front of me or that got invited was sorry. Guards, you know, you ask me, they sorry. Who were the guards? Luke Rittenhour got invited. He weak as fuck. No knock on him, you know what I mean? But like, you know, this is my hurt talking. I respect his game. I think Luke Rittenhour was a good player, but like, We talking as Hoopers, it's like, are you fucking kidding me? You like start there. Now go to the top guard and be like, damn, I don't get a shot? This is ill, homie. But I wasn't tripping, dude. I knew what it was. I was like, this result, this is coming back to roost from college.
So Kyrie recently just said that. Kyrie recently was like, the team came out, they asked Ky about it and Ky said, I said, I'll be cheering them on. Yeah. But I just remember the days when we had to go back and get some shots.
You had to go prove yourself, bro. And it's not even that, it's like, there's 100 dudes in the league that deserve to all be in the gym together. If y'all really wanna know who the cream of the crop.
Yep.
You can't just handpick just on popularity. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know. If you're gonna have a tryout, you gotta have like, once you have one tryout, you gotta have them tryout every time. Because it's also showing like a level of chemistry, dedication, and who fit. You know what I mean? Who's a real glue dude. Got all these superstars, but who gonna be the glue?
Yep.
Who gonna be the central intelligence? Who quarterback in the defense? You know what I mean? Who making the ultimate sacrifice to make sure everybody sacrifice? You know what I mean? And so, You know, I'm rooting for 'em. I know they can do it 'cause shit, we got superpowers.
Absolutely.
But there's, on a team, everybody is a superstar in they role.
Yes.
And in order to have a team, you gotta have those dudes who are superstars in they role. And you gotta let 'em try out. Like how the fuck Kyrie don't, can't get a tryout?
Yeah. Yeah. It's a fact. No, I get it. And speaking of Olympics—
How Draymond Green don't get a tryout? You feel what I'm saying?
I think I should've got it. You know, the thing that really pissed me off about it, I haven't said much about it, but the thing that upset me about it was a 41 named Poole came up.
And how you not in the pool?
And I ain't on the pool.
And I played in the last, I won the last 2 gold medals. Right, you got 2 gold medals.
And with winning those 2, last 2 gold medals, I wouldn't necessarily say I'm at the absolute best now.
Nah, you was killing.
But right now today I am—
You at the top of your— Still got to wreck it with me. Bro, you at the top and at the peak of who you are.
Absolutely.
Like this means so much more, you know what I mean? Because it's like— I don't understand, bro.
100%.
I don't understand, man. I feel that.
Like I said, I'm sure—
And when are you not qualified to like keep, usually people who win gold medals, they keep playing.
For sure.
So that's why you need to try out. Like some of these dudes gotta go, they gotta go take and say, "Hey, big dog, I gotta retire." And you gotta be like, "You know what? Damn, dog." It's time.
You got time.
But you gotta give you that chance. You gotta give them that chance. You gotta get a whole history of the legacy. —of the game and the storytelling that chance.
I agree.
'Cause like dudes ain't retiring. Ain't nobody retiring nobody. Ain't nobody getting retired. It's just like everybody walking away like, "Hey, like thanks for the service." You know what I mean?
You know the beautiful thing about being a sports fan? There's only like 2 days the whole year without a game. 2. With so much happening and so much action, that makes just about every day game day at DraftKings Sportsbook. It's super easy for first-timers to get started. Try betting on something simple like picking a team to win. Go to the DraftKings Sportsbook app, select your team, and place your first bet. It really couldn't be any easier or any simpler. Baseball, golf, UFC. There's something for every fan of every sport to bet on DraftKings. And I know it's early, but football season will be here before you know it. And the Kansas City Chiefs are currently the favorite to win the Super Bowl on DraftKings at +550. And if you're new to DraftKings, you got to check this out. New customers bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now and use code HOOPS. That's H-O-O-P-S. That's code HOOPS for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets instantly when you bet just $5. Only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.
