Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

How Nikola Jokic reacted to Draymond Green's criticism | Best of The Volume

26 Feb 2022 · 2 min

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2:16

In this interview segment, Draymond Green recounts a televised analysis where he highlighted four clips showing Nikola Jokic failing to rotate defensively, labeling him as a weak link in the Denver Nuggets' defense. Green admits his criticism was harsh, but Jokic later approached him, acknowledged the feedback, and confirmed he had improved his defensive play, which Green affirmed. Green reflects on the importance of delivering criticism without disrespect, especially among fellow players who may become future teammates. The conversation expands to discuss the role of commentators in offering constructive criticism, the fine line between critique and disrespect, and how social media can amplify perceived negativity, often misrepresenting the intent behind such commentary.

Chapters

One big moment I had on TV was, it was a whole segment. I think I had 4 clips at halftime and we were, it was a Nuggets game. And I went at Jokic's defense. I'm like, if they're gonna ever be a good team, he's the back line of the defense. He has to be good defensively. And I show 4 clips him not rotating over as the low man, him not moving. One, like 4 clips. And I was very critical of him. He came up to me that following year and he said, "Hey, I—" Like he said something along the lines like, "I saw what you said about my defense or something. I like, you were right." Or, "I appreciate it." Or, Something he said like that. And he said, "I've gotten better." I said, "You've 100% gotten better. I've been watching you this year and you've 100% gotten better." And that was a big moment for me because— That's dope. This TV thing is new and I want to do it and I enjoy doing it. But I also, I gotta, these are my, these are, I work with these guys. Like I go to battle with these guys. These guys can possibly be my teammate one day. Right. And I have to understand that. And so I try to find that balance. And that was a big moment for me, 'cause I was extremely critical of his defense. But you right, you right. Guys get lost in that. They start completely bashing players and they lose themselves. And I don't like that.
I think it's important because you can be critical without disrespecting. And I think that's the fine line that good commentators can use or good analysts can use. You know, because like you said, at the end of the day, what we're saying, we know it's amongst our brothers and they're gonna hear it. So we're saying stuff for them to use to put in their bag or to get better with. And I think the fact that, like you said, the MVP of the league heard what you said, applied it, and got better instead of, you know, sulking about it or this dude's hatin'. I mean, I think sometimes what gets lost is social media's given so many people a voice. Oh, Draymond's up there hatin' or Matt's up there hatin'. And then it's never that because it's not in us. We don't have no reason to hate.