First MAILBAG of the Season! Kenyon Martin Response, Coach Izzo Memories, & Nikola Jokic Comparisons

The NBA on Prime is back with a week of Emirates NBA Cup action. Quarterfinal doubleheaders on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a semifinal doubleheader Saturday and the championship game next Tuesday, only on Prime. Not a Prime member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial. Restrictions apply. See amazon.com/amazonprime for details. What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. On today's show, it's a mailbag edition of the show, so I'll be going through your questions and answering everything that you The fans wanna know. So let's go, let's get right into it. [MUSIC] Our first question of the day comes from @Matt_Ripley_24. What's your favorite memory with Coach Izzo? Man, so many memories with Coach Izzo. I think my favorite moment with Coach Izzo was I was sitting in a meeting I was a recruit with my mom, my high school coach, assistant coach, Reverend Bryant from our school, all of Michigan State staff. And my mom, my mom did not want me to go to Michigan State. My mom actually wanted me to go to Michigan. To this day, I think I made the right choice. And I know to this day, she know I made the right choice and believe I made the right choice. 'Cause these days she love Michigan. And y'all know how much I love Michigan State. My mom loved Michigan State and be at Michigan State more than I do. And you know, she walk in there, she the queen, you know? And so this meeting in particular, I had just reopened my recruitment from Kentucky. We were on an unofficial visit at Michigan State. We were sitting in Coach Izzo's film room, which I've spent a million hours in at this point. And, We were sitting there having a meeting and my mom went at Coach so crazy. And he was like, "All right, you guys can leave then." And she was like, "All right, fine, we outta here. Let's go, Day Day." And we get up and walking out and he hop up, "Wait, wait, wait." She called his bluff. "Wait, wait, we can fix this." And he starts going into it. And my mom's like, "I called you, ain't called me back. You a liar, this, that." And he's like, "You call who? Who'd you call?" Lori at the time was Coach Izzo's assistant. She's like, "I talked to her." He's like, "All right, fine. She's fired then." Coach was bluffing. Lori wasn't fired and we didn't go anywhere. And the rest is history, right? But that was one of my favorite moments because that moment right there really shows me who Coach Izzo is. He's tough as hell, tough as nails, extremely tough on the outside. But in the center, it's like this heart of gold. And he cares so much about people. And that moment right there was it. Like, oh wait, wait, like, no, that, let, let me get this exterior off. Like, let me show you who I really am. And like I said, the rest is history. Our relationship has only grown from there. I'm forever grateful for our relationship. But I would say that's one of my favorites because that's the beginning. And look what it's blossomed into today. Yeah. So that's one of my favorite moments with Coach Izz, but I have a million of them. Our next question is from Steph the Goat Fan, 30. What's the most inspirational movie you've ever seen? I don't know that it's, it has some inspirational moments in it, but I really love the entire message. And the one that I would go to is, There's a couple. Remember the Titans. Just how they band together, all came together for the sake of the team, for the sake of the community. Like if they can do that, you know the lengths as an athlete that you can go and the things that you can do and change and help impact. And so that one I love. Through the Fire, Sebastian Telfair documentary, watching a kid grow up in the projects of Coney Island and make it out. With all his family. Like that to me was extremely inspiring. Excuse me, extremely inspiring. And like, I know I still probably to this day can recite you word for word Through the Fire, Sebastian Telfair's documentary. Not quite a movie, but that inspired the hell out of a young kid from the north side of Saginaw watching Sebastian Telfair. Yeah. That, and then I got the opportunity to play against Bassey, which was like crazy to me the first time I saw him. I think it was like maybe even my opening night of my career. I think he was in Phoenix. I could be mixing year 1 and 2 up, but I think it was the opening night of my career. But surreal moment just seeing Sebastian Telfair and loving that documentary the way I did. Nice. Next up we got @nipydave, N-I-P-Y-I, Dave1. What's one fight you had in the NBA that you low-key regret? I haven't really had many fights. We've had these moments. I think the one that I regret, I'm not one that lives with regrets. That's not really how I roll. So I don't know that that's the right, word, but I think one moment that I really look back on is actually the moment with Yusuf Nurkic, because I actually think that moment cost me an opportunity to win a third gold medal. And so I look back at that one and be like, "Man, that sucks." But like I said, I don't live my life with any regrets at all. Shit happens. It is what it is. Things still turned out to be pretty fine for me. I can't complain. But I would say looking back on that moment, which— Yeah. Is what it is. It'd be that one. From @krarm_, what still motivates you after 14 years in the league? Number one is I still wanna win another championship. I still have goals. I wanna make all defensive team. I still wanna put my name in the hat for Defensive Player of the Year. I'm still writing my legacy. I don't think I finished writing the story. I still love to compete at the highest level. The games, like, they still get my blood boiling, you know? And so I still enjoy all of that and I still love the process. You know, the process of getting better, I still enjoy that. I enjoy going to the gym and working and trying to improve, you know? So I think— Yeah. You know, that's what still drives me after 14 years. And I don't see that fire burning out anytime soon. And another thing that drives me also is like, my kids are starting to get of age of where it's like, my kids are starting to get of age where they understand what's going on. And I want them to be able to see me play at a high level. And so it pushes me to continue to play continue to play at a high level so they can experience that. How do you get the confidence to guard somebody like Wemby or any player over 7 feet tall? I think for me, I, I, I've put the work in. I believe in myself. I believe in my process. I believe in my ability. You know, I'm, I am a very cerebral defender and I always believe that I can outsmart the guy in front of me. And so it's not that I'm gonna jump over Wemby or that he's not gonna, you know, be an inch, I mean, a foot taller than me, you know, or anybody else for that matter. But I just, I have a couple things that I try to do. I try to know your game, know your abilities. I have a firm belief in the low man always wins. So if I can get lower than you, how can you move me? Make you take tough shots. But you know, you also, I also have the confidence because I've done it over and over and over and over and over again. Yeah. So our last question about Garden-Wimby was from @lovethjs. Our next question is from @officialwarriorsworld. What's your most memorable block in the NBA? My most memorable block in the NBA would be Damian Lillard. And then also Bron. I think those were two incredibles where I came outta nowhere from the weak side. Kind of very similar plays actually. Came off the weak side off one foot. And got both of those. So I'll say those two. And then also against Damian Lillard, but Noah Vonleh, Dame was involved in, I had to stop Dame at the 3-point line 'cause he was gonna pull up. He threw it to Noah going down the lane. I circled around, I probably shouldn't even jump because I should have been dunked on, but I jumped and went and got it. And that was like a couple plays in a row, couple great defensive plays in a row. And— Yeah. Yeah, those were a few of my favorites. @ieezus64. Iezus. Iezus64. Which team would you say prepare your Warriors the most before the dynasty years? The Spurs. When we played the Spurs, the second round, or excuse me, the second round, my rookie year and we were up 2 to 1 and they just walked us down. They never panicked. They never switched from what they were doing. They just walked us down. Game 4, we had won. They walked us down and they won games 5, game 6, series over. And just the poise that they had, the continuity that they had, it immediately showed to us like, Oh, the level that we need to get to. So I would definitely say the Spurs. And then also those Clippers teams, they didn't necessarily prepare us, but they were motivation as everyone was saying like, yo, this is the next young team out the West. And we had something to say about that. @Kanoanoa, what's the biggest adversity that you faced during your basketball journey? Man, this whole journey is made up of adversity. And at all different levels, there's adversity, right? Like making freshman basketball team as a freshman in high school, that was adversity I faced. Getting to college and my freshman year, the first half sitting on the bench and trying to earn minutes. You know, you get to the NBA, have to earn minutes. Like there's all type of adversity. And to say one is bigger than the other one, I don't know that that's the case. Because each one is specific to their moments. So some you have to overcome to get to that next step. And so they're all relative. But man, just understand and know that this whole journey is full of adversity and only a select few can overcome it. Our next question, @a.h.o2712. Would Jokic ever crack your personal all-time top 10? Yeah, I think he's more than capable of cracking the top 10. He's already a top 10 talent with the way he's playing. However, I do think most people are saying, yo, he need to get another championship. I have to play against him, I have to guard him. It's hard for me not to believe that Joker is a top 10 talent to ever play in the NBA. He's incredible. He controls every possession down the floor. And what everyone else is doing. And there's just not many people that possess that skill set and actually win games. So I think he's definitely a top 10 talent. I think the resume, personal accolades are there as well. I think most people wanna see him get another championship. Who's your favorite player on the Brooklyn Nets and thoughts on Danny Wolfe being called the Jewish Joker? I haven't seen Danny Wolfe play outside of University of Michigan. I haven't really seen any Nets games. So, You know, we got the Jewish Joker now, we got the baby Joker, we got, I mean, at some point we just gotta let people be themselves, right? Like Joker is Joker and I get it, but we can't have like all these different variations because there's only one of him. So yeah, I haven't seen Danny Wolfe to say he's not, but like enough, man. Like— Enough. Memo Okor was a great player. No one ever wants to compare anyone to Memo Okor. They're just Joker. Like I have to fucking guard Joker. You mean to tell me everybody's just Joker? Fuck outta here. No disrespect to Danny Wolfe. I haven't played against him, but enough of comparing everybody to Joker. It's only the single greatest center to play the game in the last 15 years. Enough. Also, does Danny Wolfe even play center? Like, I don't think Danny Wolfe's a center, but maybe he is. Enough. I don't know. @Aiziza64 again, name a player you would've loved to play against from any team in any era. I would've loved to play against Michael Jordan. Nah, just every, all the stories you hear of him, watching him play, competing against that level of competitor would have absolutely loved to play against Michael Jordan. And it's like, it's Mike. I wanna be like Mike. We all wanted to be like Mike. Hey, Draymond here. The NBA on Prime is back with an exciting week of Emirates NBA Cup action. The knockout round starts with quarterfinal doubleheaders on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Then the quest for the cup heads to Vegas for a semifinal doubleheader on Saturday. And it all culminates with the championship game next Tuesday night. Man, these cup games get intense fast. Everybody's playing like there's a trophy on the line. And if you're not a Prime member, that's not a problem. Sign up for a 30-day free trial to get started today. Emirates NBA Cup coverage continues this week only on Prime. Restrictions apply. See amazon.com/amazonprime for details. Evan O'Brien, 52:50. What would your dream dunk contest lineup look like this year? My dream dunk contest lineup this year. I don't have one. Like, All-Star, it just hasn't been great. The guys who's supposed to be in there haven't been great. I mean, like, the great guys that's supposed to be in, they haven't, they haven't, like, they just haven't done it. And so I think with that, it's kind of died down. Like you got guys in there that's not in the NBA. It's crazy. I worked this hard to be an All-Star and you could just be in a dunk contest and not be on an NBA contract. We might as well go get like those guys that be doing all those crazy ass dunks. So yeah. I'm not too stoked about it. Yeah. @PStreetThePavilion, do you prefer playing the 4 or 5? I am naturally a 4. I became who I became at the 4. I will always love playing the 4. I've played a bunch of 5. I've also become who I've become playing 5. Needless to say, I have always prided myself on being someone that whether it's point guard, center, power forward, you name it. If my coach need me to go do that, I can go do it. And then put me on the floor and I'll go figure that out. So I've always prided myself on that. Nothing changes for me. Me today. I can do both. I'll continue to do both. And where I'm asked to fill in at, that's where I'll be. @CookTerry, I love seeing your son DJ last night. Does he play basketball and love it as much as you do, or is he learning more into— leaning more into other sports? He's getting started in basketball. He, he has a natural feel for it, which is interesting to see because he doesn't play a ton at all, but he has a natural feel when he does. And we started working out a bit, and I think he can be really good at it if he wants to be. However, he loves soccer more. I would say that's his number one sport right now. But I personally think he should play basketball, but I could be biased. But I just think he could be really good at it. It, it naturally just comes to him. So we'll see. But nonetheless, he loved competing and anything that he does— sounds familiar— he's competing and he's trying to compete at the highest level. So I can always love and respect and appreciate that. Mm-hmm. Because that will carry over to anything that he decides to do in life. @Sam asks, "Is small ball basketball the future or does it vary from team to team?" I think it varies from team to team. To me, it seems like the NBA is moving back towards a bigger league. You see some teams playing 2 bigs now, which you hadn't seen in some years. I think it's kind of moving back towards that direction. But in saying that, OKC still thrives in small ball. Right. And so I think, you know, you just gotta have the right personnel. What, you know, we, we play in a copycat league, monkey see monkey do. And because we had so much success with small ball, everybody started to go small ball. It don't work for everybody. You have to have the right pieces to fit. Like as good as OKC is, what really unlocks their small ball lineup, and they do it a bunch of different ways, but Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso unlocks those small ball lineups, you know? And so, You have to have players on your roster that can actually unlock those lineups and not just throw people in positions because they're similar size to someone else on another team that's thriving in a small ball lineup, which we've seen a lot of over the course of the years in the NBA. And I think helped continue to add to our success because people were putting guys who were my size at center just because they're my size and they didn't know how to protect the rim. And we would get layup after layup after layup. And so I think you have to have the right personnel. @AliNBA asks, who do you compare SGA to all time? Man, that's a good question. Shai is very unique. Get to his middie with the best of 'em. Shifty finishes at the rim. I don't really know that he is compared to anyone. He's just a different player. And that's okay, he's an MVP. He can create his own lane. And that's what I'mma stick with. Last but not least on this mailbag episode, I hope you all have enjoyed me answering your questions. @TJCFN, thoughts on Kenyon Martin naming 50 Power Fours better than you? I thought it was funny. I didn't actually hear all the names, I just read some of 'em 'cause I don't really watch what people say. So I just read some of the names that he said And I thought it was cute. I thought it was real cute. I thought, you know, that's cool. I found it interesting that a lot of people say he didn't put himself on the list, but you know, I found it, you know, some of those names that I read were just interesting, made it come off as a bit emotional if you ask me, but nonetheless, shout out to all 50 of those guys on having a hell of an NBA career and doing what they did and putting their name in the bucket. I respect all of 'em. It's all love. Good for them. I'm not gonna shoot none of those guys because, you know, other people get a little emotional. I ain't gonna shoot them down. They didn't do it. They weren't the ones emotional. So shout out to them and shout out to him. You know, it's all good. It is what it is. Say what you gonna say. I don't mind. You know me, how I roll. I speak when I wanna speak and the conversation go as I go. In the conversation, don't go if I don't go. And that's just how it goes. So, you know, I can make people important. And that's a good skill. And that's a high honor that I wear that hat with a lot of pride. So I hope you all appreciate it. I hope you all love it too. Till next time, thank you again for tuning in to the Draymond Green Show. I am about to have another kid. My wife and I are— You are? Having a baby sometime in the next, we shall see, but probably a week or so. So I'll see you guys in a couple weeks. I'm gonna lock in on that and obviously our season, but I'm extremely excited, extremely grateful to be added to our tribe. Till I see y'all again, y'all keep going. Love, peace, and hair grease. Deuces. If you're rocking with the Draymond Green Show, be sure to click follow on your favorite podcast app. And while you're there, go ahead and drop a 5-star rating and leave a review. I wanna hear what you think. And it would also mean a ton to me if you share it with a friend that you think would enjoy it. Let's keep this thing growing. The Draymond Green Show is presented by Audacy and executive produced in conjunction with The New Media. Our executive producers are Leah Reese Dennis, Danny Freisinger, and Greg Hosner.