In this episode of the Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green, joined by Colin Cowherd and an unnamed panelist, debates whether Dan Hurley’s high‑intensity, "Izzo‑like" coaching approach can succeed in the NBA, specifically with the Los Angeles Lakers. Green recounts his own experience under Tom Izzo, noting how Izzo’s relentless verbal critiques worked in college but would likely fall flat with grown‑men professionals. The panelists argue that NBA locker rooms demand a more collaborative, ego‑sensitive environment, where constant yelling and public shaming could alienate star players like LeBron James. They discuss the broader challenges of transitioning from college to the pros, citing examples such as Izzo’s limited NBA stint, Billy Donovan’s modest NBA résumé, and Darvin Ham’s brief tenure with the Lakers. The conversation also touches on the shift in a coach’s legacy when moving to the NBA—where blame is amplified and credit is scarce—and how that might affect Hurley’s ego. Finally, the group concludes that merely swapping coaches will not instantly make the Lakers a championship contender; roster upgrades are also necessary. Throughout, the tone remains conversational and critical, with occasional humor and a brief promotional ad from Colin Cowherd.
Chapters
Welcome to the brand new Draymond Green Show YouTube channel. Hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any of our content. Dan Hurley is reportedly making a decision on the Lakers job on Monday. And reportedly, he's extremely impressed with the Lakers pitch, but also loves what he has built at UConn. Now, As a player that actually played for a coach very similar to Dan Hurley, which is like super intense, by the way, like, Izz would tell us like, "You suck at basketball. Like, Draymond, you stink. You suck. Your mother could play better than you." Like, Izz would say those types of things to us. And when I got to the NBA a couple times, is looked at, there was a couple times that he looked at NBA jobs. And I remember specifically he was looking at the Cavs job. And well, that was when I was in college. And he didn't know whether LeBron was coming back or not and he stayed. But then he was looking at the Cavs job again when Beeline took it. Right. And I told Izz, I said, "Izz, something as simple as the way guys dress in the NBA will bother you. And you can't tell the guy that's making $30 million he suck. Like, it's just gonna be hard for you to do that. I'd much rather you stay at Michigan State." Now, selfishly, I wanted him to stay at Michigan State, but also me having his best interest, just like he's always had my best interest to this day, no matter what happens, If anything goes right or wrong, I know I can turn to him.
Right.
Dan Hurley has that same style. I watch him with his players and it's crazy. Do you think that his intense style could translate to an NBA coach?
Uh, I would, he would have to adjust. Like you just can't be that intense. All the time in the NBA locker room. So I would say no, but you know, he's a great coach, so I know he can adjust, but it's definitely gonna be an adjustment. You can't come in for 82 games and be that intense, 'cause you're gonna lose, I wouldn't say you will lose the locker room, but at some point they gonna tune you out. If you just always yelling, if you always in people's face, if you overcoaching, sometimes guys just like to figure out as a, we gotta figure out as a unit sometimes. Or sometimes it need to be collaborative. Like our film sessions, well, you might take over one day or Chris Paul might take over or Steph gonna have something to say that day. So you can't just be a dictator in the locker room or— I would not, that's not to call him one, but that intensity, you know, I think that would make our team so special or our locker room is just the joy and the knowing how to balance it out. So off the top of my head, I would say no. Just because, you know, it's a lot of different personalities in the NBA locker room. In college, you gotta kind of fall into place. In the NBA, you don't have to. You know, you want guys to buy in, but no, no, at the end of the day, we all grown men. So people don't like getting shown up in front of people in the game. So it's a fine line between the tense and getting embarrassed. So it's like, all right, you gotta figure that, how to walk that.
I agree, I agree. I think it's—
go ahead. Now, how would you feel about playing for Izzo as how you are now?
I love Izzo to death. If Izzo said some of the things to me today that he said to me when I was 20, it wouldn't work. It just wouldn't work. It would not work. And I'm so happy Izz stayed at Michigan State because A, I would hate for somebody to try to take a hit at his legacy because it didn't work. Like, it's hard to coach in the NBA, man. Like, by the way, Darvin Ham had very two successful seasons and got fired. Like, it is very hard to coach in the NBA. So I would hate to see his legacy get impacted like that. But also, There's just some things you can't say to me at 34 that you would've said to me at 19. And so he'd have to adjust. And by the way, Billy Donovan was much like Iz, right?
Right.
Like they were much like the same person. And you know, he's made it work. I wouldn't necessarily say he's had the best coaching career in the NBA, but he's been a good NBA coach.
Still coaching, so you doing good enough.
Yeah, like, right? Like, so, you know, it could help and I understand that, but I agree, that style, that particular style, if he gonna take that style, you are not gonna go in there and tell LeBron, ah, LeBron James, ah! It ain't working. So that's my take on that. But I do got one more question for you. If— and by the way, before I ask the question, there's also a thing where college coaches are like, you go on the campus, it's all the man.
Right.
You go on UConn campus, I only— uh, what's his name? Stephon Castle. And what was the big kid name? Uh, Clinigan, like Donovan Clinigan or something. Clinigan, yeah, something like Clingan, Clingan, Clinigan. No disrespect to him, but like, they not the man on campus. Dan Hurley's the man on campus.
Right.
In the NBA, Dan Hurley, you only get blamed.
Right.
You don't get credit.
Right.
And so I think that's a totally different thing for coaches to have to accept as well. And like, how does his ego take that? Like, if you get the Lakers job, brother, you like 7th on the totem pole of the most important people who went to Lakers. You not number 1. And so that's a different thing. In saying that, do you think the Lakers hiring Draymond Green Dan Hurley makes them a championship contender next year.
Uh, I'mma ask you a question. Were they a championship contender this year?
They were not.
Then I think just changing the coach didn't— no, if all they do is change the coach, I don't think that just puts them in, into contention. They gonna have to I don't know what they need to add, but they had to add something to figure it out. I don't think it just— I don't think Draymond Green was the only problem for why they didn't win the championship.
Facts.
So I couldn't just say, oh, we changed the coach, now we a champion. I don't think it worked like that.
That's a fact.
So, so I would say no.
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