In a pre‑game panel on NBA Tip‑Off, Warriors forward Draymond Green talks about playing on Christmas Day, reflects on a recent bench‑side confrontation with coach Steve Kerr, and explains why he chose to leave the huddle to prevent the dispute from escalating. He frames the decision as a leadership move, emphasizing the importance of setting a daily example for younger teammates rather than letting a single heated moment define the team culture. Green also discusses the Warriors’ aging roster, injury prevention, and the role of the team’s medical staff (Rick Celebrini) in keeping players healthy. He offers a scouting assessment of Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, arguing that Flagg’s best impact comes when he plays his natural forward position rather than point guard. The conversation shifts to broader NBA topics: the Knicks’ recent bench improvement, trade‑season speculation involving stars like Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and playoff predictions. Throughout, the panel interjects with light‑hearted banter (e.g., references to Absorbine Jr., holiday gifts), but Green’s core messages focus on conflict resolution, veteran leadership, player development, and the current state of the league.
Chapters
I've watched the Christmas Day games every year for a long time now growing up, watching those, imagining myself playing in them one day. So I think it's really cool that I get the opportunity to play in a Christmas Day game. I'm excited. You know, I get to go back to a very familiar place. I get to hopefully shoot the ball at a high clip like I did for the whole entirety of my career there. And it's gonna be a great time. A lot of people don't get the opportunity, but because we have Steph Curry, we get to have that opportunity.
My favorite part about about NBA Christmas Day is just the atmosphere.
Opening presents and then seeing the game, there's nothing better than that.
And we are joined now by our old buddy, Draymond Green. Golden State Warriors gonna be playing at home against the Dallas Mavericks in the third game of our five today. Dray, how you doing?
I'm great, fellas. How y'all doing? What's going on, Ernie?
We are good, Draymond. Thanks. And I— and look, I'll just get this out of the way real quick. It looks like Christmas joy has returned to the Bay Area. Looks like everything's okay from what I read after you and Steve Kerr had a little something going on the other night.
Kerfuffle.
Kerfuffle. Good use of that word, or whatever that means.
Spell it, spell it.
No one can. So how's things, Draymond?
Things are great. You know, we had a great day yesterday. We had a great practice, some great conversations. And not only just that, you know, and I'm really happy that I left that huddle when I did because then it allowed us yesterday to just move forward and talk about what we needed to talk about and the things that we need to get done with this team. I think we're starting to play a lot better. So it was good to mitigate the damage. Mitigate the damages, continue to move on. We've been together for a very long time and stuff happens. So I'm excited, you know, to continue playing and get out there today and go get a win.
Draymond, I could tell that wasn't your first argument with Steve, but as a leader, do you feel it was wrong for you to leave the bench?
Nah, Shaq, and be that Steve and I have had those moments, I felt like I knew a better way to handle it. I just thought it was very heated and it wasn't going to change. And so I thought it was best for me to get myself out of the moment, allow, you know, things to go down. And I thought our team was playing great. Like, we weren't hitting shots, but we were playing a great game. And I didn't want the one thing to become two, you know? So let that moment happen, remove myself. We have a good enough team to go continue playing great and win the game, which we did.
And I thought that was the best thing to do instead of that are sitting in that moment continues to fester.
Things continue to build. All of a sudden, things are said that you can't come back from tomorrow. And so I thought, you know, that was a huge moment of growth for me, of not just standing there, sitting there arguing with Steve, but getting out the way, allowing our team to play great and get a win that we needed.
You know, Draymond, between you, Steph, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford, Do you ever worry about running out of Bengay and Absorbine Jr. 'cause y'all old-ass bodies?
Absorbine Jr.? Shaq, tell him Icy Hot, Shaq. What's he talking about? Absorbine Jr.?
You're showing your age, guy.
I ain't know what that was but you.
I already know what Absorbine Jr. is.
I know exactly what you're talking about.
Hey, Chuck, you know what? Guys are getting older, which I think all of you would agree is a blessing in this league. You know, anytime you can grow older in this league, I think you've done it. Doing a great job. There's no, um, secret that, that we are getting older. Uh, it'll be great to get Al back on the court. We haven't had Al much this year, but for the most part, you know, guys have had injuries that, you know, you get hit, you know, I've had an ankle injury or foot injury, you know, Steph has had the contusions. And so I think, you know, we're doing a pretty good job. Rick Celebrini is great at, at keeping everybody healthy and going. We just gotta win some games. But overall, you know, I think we still do this at a high level and we know what we gotta do to take care of our bodies. Which growing old does give you, you know, the opportunity to learn your body and what it needs. And so we just gotta win games and we're starting to do that, but we gotta put a bunch of wins together. But I don't really worry about the health. I think we're a pretty fairly healthy group.
Draymond, you know, going back to the incident as well.
You gonna beat the dead horse?
No, it's a different way to ask a question that maybe you hadn't done instead of worrying about Amazon Bean Jr.
And liniment.
But so for me, You know, as a leader of the team that you are, do you ever be fearful that the younger players, 'cause you guys are split, like you got half old, half young.
Mm-hmm.
The younger players, they don't understand the relationship that you might have had with Steve for so long that you could maybe have these spats or had these spats where they can look at it and go, well, is this the proper behavior for me when I don't like what Steve is doing or some coach later down the line?
I mean, listen, I think with younger guys, you're showing, you're building an example every day, right? Like it's not just one moment or when a moment goes wrong that that's the moment those guys get to see. You know, I think, you know, these guys are around us each and every day. One of the best environments in the NBA, one of the best organizations in the NBA. They get, they have the opportunity to come up under that. You have a heated moment in a heated situation, that's not the thing that takes the cake. And that's why you do all of your work day in and day out to be a great example for young guys so they know what it is that they're following. I think, you know, and the sport that we play, which is, you know, you gotta have very high level of testosterone in this sport to compete at a high level. Sometimes things don't quite go that way. But, you know, I think oftentimes, Kenny, People look at certain moments and be like, "Ah man, that one moment defines everything." You know, we live in a world where media dominates everything and people see one moment and they think that defines everything. But for us in our situation, you've built up that cachet. You know, you've built up the reputation of what it's like to be a leader every day, what it's like to go hard every day. And you've built the relationship with these guys. And so because you do all of that work on a daily basis, I don't worry about, you know, one moment or something defining what these young guys see because we know the example that we set on a daily basis for them.
First look at Cooper Flagg. What do you, what can you tell me about him from what you have seen or what you have watched?
Oh, well, I thought early on a lot of people tried to judge him. He was playing the point guard and I had actually said on my podcast like, yo, I think the season's gonna get a lot better for Cooper Flagg once they move him away from the point guard position. So oftentimes, People think just because you're a great ball handler or a great decision maker that that makes you a great point guard, and it doesn't, you know. And I think Cooper— I don't think Cooper had ever played the point in his life, and he come into the NBA, start off the season playing the point guard. But you look at those numbers right there, those numbers are with him playing the 4 or 3 or 4 and sliding back to his natural position. I think Cooper Flagg is a stud. One thing I can appreciate about him is he does it on both ends of the floor. He's figuring it out offensively, how to get to his spots, and then defensively, he's to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball. So, you know, I think Dallas got a bright future with Cooper Flagg, and it's been impressive to see, like, you know, some guys it takes 20, 30, 40 games till you start seeing it. It took him about 10 games and you've seen him rounding into form and playing great basketball.
Draymond Green, we appreciate you getting up early out there. It's what, 8:20, 8:25 in the morning out there on a game day?
Yes, sir.
We appreciate it.
Yes, sir.
Open the presents, do all that stuff.
Merry Christmas, Dray.
Merry Christmas, son.
Thank you, thank you. Merry Christmas, fellas. I appreciate y'all. It's great to see y'all, man. We've been missing y'all, seeing y'all on the tube. It's great to see y'all, fellas.
We gonna have you back in once the playoffs start.
Oh, see, uncalled for, Dray.
Uncalled for.
Bang, bang.
Okay, you're back on the naughty list.
Uncalled for, man.
I didn't talk to you like that, Draymond.
Man.
Shaq, we'll bring our rings, man. We'll bring our rings, we'll share them with Chuck. Have a great one, Draymond Green.
Appreciate you, man.
Appreciate it.
You are something. Chuck and Kenny, seeing they're getting Shaq shoes.
Is that the pitcher? Is that the pitcher? Ojeda?
Cedric the Entertainer vibes?
Mr. and Mrs. North and South America and all the ships at sea. OKC, let's go to press. Oklahoma City thundering its way past all opponents this season, mopping the floor with them like a Hell's Kitchen barkeep. With just 4 losses so far, can OKC get past 73? Going 74-8 would mean no one has been better, making the Thunder a record setter. But is it on the mind of Spiffy KJ Shakeelchase Alexander?
Absolutely. Winning matters, and no matter what form it looks like to me. So absolutely.
Now that December 15th has passed, the NBA trades may be moving fast. It's officially big game hunting season. Meaning NBA GM callers will be trying to acquire difference-making roundballers. Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant may all be up for grabs. Which players will switch uniforms, making headlines before the trade deadline? And we have our third winner of the NBA Cup with the New York Knickabacas. Digging their heels in to take down the San Antonio Spurs. With the win, Knicks players hit the jackpot in Vegas, taking the top money prize, but New York hopes the title will propel them to win a championship ring of a bigger size come June. As always, whether it's hoopers or bloopers, you'll see it all right here on This Week in the NBA.
Great job by Dags.
Harry the Hat.
Yeah, Harry the Hat. Thankfully, the shot of the celebration after the NBA Cup of the Knicks celebrating was a tight shot and not the Jalen Brunson-Josh Hart shot, which—
You know what I'm talking about.
And I want to congratulate the Knicks for not putting up that stupid banner too. Why?
Why is it stupid?
Because that's not a—
you don't put it—
you're the New York Knicks, man.
You're the New York Knicks and you're 20-9. —right now.
No, look at that. Look at that.
Walt Frazier, Barnett, McGuire, Draymond Green, DeBusschere.
It's not like they got Boston Celtic banners.
Bradley, Ewing. Look at that, man. You can't— Every championship team should be—
The Red Holzman. You cannot put up mediocre banners. Stop it.
Okay. But here—
The Sacramento Kings can.
At 20-9, and this is a team that's tied with the Lakers for the most wins on Christmas Day at 25. But so where do you see the Knicks right now? Detroit's number 1. The Knicks are number 2. Who's the best team in the East?
Well, I'm gonna go with Knicks right now. You know, they're playing great basketball. You know, Mike Brown is giving them great energy. They're playing a lot faster. You know, I still need KAT to play a little bit more consistent, but listen, everybody on the team knows their roles. They know what they have to do. And this kid right here is one of the best players in the game. Listen, I don't know how he does the stuff that he does, but he's a great player. Love watching this kid play. I'm really happy for the Knicks. I think they can go all the way.
The Knicks have versatility. You know, this is what the vision was when they bought Karl-Anthony Towns. They were like, we can be outside, we can be inside. Thibodeau started the process and it's up to Mike Brown to finish the deal. But right now—
That's the cat I wanna see right there.
They have a lot of versatility. They shoot the ball from the 3. They have size. They can play small with, they can play big with Cat Mitchell Robinson.
Oh yeah, there you go, Cat.
Knockdown at 4. Versatility is there now.
Well, I'm gonna say this. I picked the Knicks. I said the Knicks are gonna win the East. Shout out to the guys who fixed their bench. Their bench is finally playing. I watched them play a couple of games in that cup. Their bench was the difference in the game. And that was the only difference last year.
You know what's interesting too on that, Chuckster, is like they are, I mean, they rank 28th in the bench, but they're scoring 9 more a game than they did a year ago.
But the main thing, they're playing their bench. That was the only knock on Tibbs, who's a terrific coach. You gotta play those guys. But I will say this, man, I'm starting to take those Pistons seriously because everybody know about Cade, but they got a grown-ass man down there, that Duran kid.
Jalen Duran.
If a fight break out, you gonna grab him last. He is a grown man.
Or second to last 'cause Isaiah Stewart's on that team too.
Yeah. Well, he, just 'cause you like to fight, that don't mean, that's different. Like, just 'cause, that's a totally different thing. Isaiah Stewart likes to fight. Jalen Duran doesn't want to fight, but nobody's gonna grab him. Yeah, dude. I'm telling you, man, the Pistons, Coach Bakerstaff has done a fabulous job, but I, because of Bronson's, he's the guy, I trust him to close. I trust him to close. I think they are the favorite, but man, I'm starting to take the Pistons series.
Yeah, meantime, the Cavs are 17 and 14. Remember the start they had last year?
Yeah.
They didn't lose their 14th game last year till March 21st.
Yeah, but they got—
All kind of injuries and 17 different starting lineups. Yeah, but it's something missing with that team. A lot of players.
Yeah, yeah. No, no, it's—
Come on, the injuries have something to do with it.
No, because it showed, they weren't injured in the— You saw last year in the playoffs, they're missing something, Ernie. And Shaq knows this, they're missing something.
What would you say that something is?
They don't have a dog.
Ooh.
They don't have a dog. I would agree with that, Chuck.
Huh? I would agree with that.
Like, Donovan Mitchell's a heck of a player, don't get me wrong. But they are missing that. You gotta have a dude, and they don't have that dude. Like I say, 'cause listen, listen, I just— there's no disrespect. That guy right there is a hell of a player, but they're missing a dog. That's the one thing. You gotta have a dog like a Verne Maxwell. You gotta have that. Kenan had that. You know, there's guys—
These guys were banged up in the playoffs last year too, by the way.
You would say they're missing—
they're missing— missing a Dern, a Dort, a Lou Dort.
