Draymond Green and Matt Barnes argue every championship team needs an enforcer who protects stars and sets a physical tone. They cite the Bucks adding PJ Tucker before winning the title, and explain how enforcers like Bobby Portis safeguard players like Steph Curry from targeting while building team toughness.
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I think the role that you played on every team that you were on, including even when you came to the Warriors the second time, was you were an enforcer. You were an enforcer. And I think, and I would love to know how you feel about this, but I don't think a team can win a championship if they don't have an enforcer. You could look at the Milwaukee Bucks, for instance, they bring in PJ Tucker, as an enforcer and boom, just like that, they win a championship. Now it's not an overnight thing, right? Like it just doesn't happen overnight, but they already had a great core group of guys.
Right.
And now, and they needed an enforcer. And I think Bobby Portis was trying to be that for them, but Bobby Portis had never really been an enforcer.
He had been a younger guy who—
It's not the league, it's like— was kind of looking for his scoring in the league and through Chicago and then with the Knicks, kind of looking for a different thing. And then he gets to Milwaukee. I know he realizes like, dang, there's a lane for that. And let me try to be that because he's naturally a tough dude. Like he ain't no slouch. You ain't bullying Bobby Portis.
Right.
Just naturally a tough dude, but also not a very outspoken dude.
Mm-hmm.
And most enforcers are outspoken or not, or they'll speak out. And Bobby Portis isn't really someone who speaks out. So you bring in PJ, who now takes that team to the next level as an enforcer. And while doing that, he shows Bobby Portis how to do it. You know, because like I said, he's not a slouch. He's not soft at all. Just had never done it before. And then you bring in a guy who has done it. And show him the way. And now I think he's taken on that role for that team. But I think there's, I think every team, if you're gonna be a great team, and I would love to hear your feelings, you need an enforcer. You have to have that.
So I completely agree. And whether it's an enforcer or glue guy, I think the term enforcer has kind of watered down over the years because the style of the play of the NBA. So when we say enforcer, it's not someone that's gonna go out there and fight people and do this. And, but if you have to, you will. But at the end of the day, it's someone with that energy that's gonna bring it constantly, whether it be in practice or the games. And I, you know, to me, I look at you as an enforcer. You know, I think you took that role to another level with all the accolades you've been able to acquire over the real. But at the end of the time, when I tell people, like, that team is great, just like I was telling you before we talked, like, that team was great. That, that was a really good team, but it, it's not a dynasty without the tangible thing that you brought to that team day in, day out, practice. Mm-hmm. I even say the organization, like, I felt like it's a mentality that the organization takes on of that particular player, you know what I mean? It's just a no-nonsense, no bullshit, we're gonna play basketball. If we need to fight, we could fight, but let's just play basketball type mentality. And, you know, the thing about me is, you know, I bounced around my career, but everywhere I went, I played. Everywhere I went, I started or was the first, 6th, you know, first guy or second guy off the bench, you know what I mean? And it was always a situation because I kind of feel like management doesn't really necessarily have a real pulse of the team. They're not in there during practice. They're not in the locker room. They don't see how you create bridges and put out fires. And I think a perfect example was that Lob City team, you know what I mean? 'Cause, you know, Doc and I got into it and I was the first trade 'cause Doc was on some bullshit and he knows it. But I was the first trade because I was like, "The fuck what you talking about, Doc? I'm a man, don't disrespect me. We're gonna have a real problem if you do." I end up getting traded. But the second I get traded from that team, I'm constantly getting calls from CP, JJ, DJ, like, "Man, we miss you. We've been telling Doc to bring you back, this, this, and that." So there's certain tangibles that you bring as a player when you're that kind of player that don't necessarily always show up on the stat sheets. You know, again, you're not the All-Star, you're not this, you're not that, but— Yeah. Very vital to team success, you know. So, um, I completely agree. I really feel like— and there are very few, I feel like, of you guys left in the league because the league is so going in such a different direction now. It's more up-tempo, it's more scoring, it's more points, it's less defense, it's less physicality. Um, but I understand and respect it and appreciate it. But at the end of the day, like I said, I think there's less of those guys. But you could really tell the teams that do still have success in this league have a guy or two like that on the team still.
100%. No, I think you definitely need it. I think also even from the standpoint of like, there are certain things that go on the court and especially, and guys do stuff to your superstar that you can't just let it ride. And if you don't have that guy on the team, your superstar will probably be one of the most disrespected superstars in the league. I'll say his name because I actually think he's one of the most talented guys in our league. And I got a lot of love for him. Like, that's my dog. We won a gold medal together. Paul George. Paul George does not get the respect he deserves. Paul George is one of the most talented players in our league. He's accomplished a hell of a lot in our league. But I feel like one of the reasons Paul George don't get the respect that he deserves because Paul George be having to fight for himself. And Paul George should never have to fight for himself. I'm sorry, but Steph Curry not fighting for himself. And you can say what you want to say about him, what you think he, uh, I don't think he gonna fight back. He ain't gotta fight for himself, nor should he have to.
You'll never know if he can because someone else is gonna handle it.
Exactly. He, and, and I feel like Paul George he has to fight for himself a lot. And I don't know any superstar that don't have somebody that's gonna fight for them. And he don't always have that. And so I just think that's very important, not only to your team, but to the star of your team as well. You gotta have somebody that's putting their neck on the line for that guy, no matter what it is.
Yes.
And like you said, we saw you do, we see myself with Steph. We saw you do that with CP. We saw you, you come on a team, when you came on a team, it was like I took a back seat in that role. Like, Matt protecting all of us out here. Like, it's cool. You know? And so I think that's very important. And we see that happening around the league. Like, you know, I sometimes see like a guy hit Trae Young and Trae Young, nah, who coming to take care of this young dude, man?
Right. The same thing.
You see his rescue.
You see that there. You see that with Jayson Tatum. Like, there's a handful of these stars that kind of have to fend for themselves, you know? And that was a role that I embraced. I love, you know, when I went out there, yeah, we would love, who wouldn't love to score 30 points a game? But I look forward to, all right, I'm gonna guard the best player every night. And then I know I got my team's back. You know, that's family. So you fuck with CP, you fuck with Kobe, rest in peace, Steve Nash, Steph, Kev, you, whoever, like, it's all, it's gonna be a war. You know what I mean? And that was a role that I loved because I, you know, that was one thing I was brought up in my family. My dad was nuts in the streets on drugs, but you protect your family at all costs. You know, I always looked at my teammates as my family. I always figured like the superstar has enough to do. You know what I mean? I got a chance to play with Kobe. So he was giving to you on both ends, dog tired every game. He should never have to worry about somebody coming at him. You know what I mean?
Absolutely.
And that's pretty much how I got on the team. You know what I mean? Because I came at him. Ron Artest came at him the year before. So he was like, "Fuck these, I'm gonna go get both these crazy motherfuckers that have my back." You know what I mean? So to me, superstars have enough. So you always need that guy or two that can hold it down. Even sometimes when it's not needed, like you said, well, I don't know if he's going to be— you'll never find out, because you're going to have to go through a lot to even know if Steph will fight back or Steph will say something back type situation.
