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Draymond Green
What'S up everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green show with my brother bd. How you feeling my dog, man?
Baron Davis
I'm good man. It's the end of the year. It's the end of the season. Birthday is always the last day of the year so you know it's serendipitous because you did tired. But if you can get over the hump, it's party time. How you feeling big dog?
Draymond Green
I'M feeling great, bro. You know, we got this last game. We obviously need to win this game. And like you said, then once you get to the playoffs, you kind of find a new boost of energy. It's kind of like a reset. And nowadays you get a week off.
Baron Davis
That's crazy.
Draymond Green
If you clinch top six. So kind of get that new boost. You got a couple ailments, let them heal a bit and kind of get back to it. But I feel great, man. We got an opportunity to control our own destiny. Win on Sunday and get into the playoffs. And so I feel great about it. Still pissed off we smoked that game against San Antonio, but nonetheless, we got a chance.
Baron Davis
It's always one of them games you like, damn, dude. You just know that's gonna hurt. And it get down to the end of the season, be like, man, we could have had this thing wrapped up.
Draymond Green
Wrapped up already. Could have been chilling tomorrow. It's crazy, man. I look at some games in the last few weeks, like that one, the Miami game, the Atlanta game.
Baron Davis
You start nitpicking.
Draymond Green
Going back to this game.
Baron Davis
I mean, dude. But that's the beauty of the game. It's almost like it's all set up that way. Right at the end of the day.
Draymond Green
You gotta earn your worth in and.
Baron Davis
You gotta earn your ticket in. And all them little losses or, you know, it's like, oh, we'd be all right. It's like, damn, dude. If we would have had one of them.
Draymond Green
If I get one of them back, just one, guaranteed. Just one.
Baron Davis
Another thing I like is the week off.
Draymond Green
Yeah.
Baron Davis
For the top six seeds. Being able to rest, get your body right, watch your, you know, watch your opponents. But you think about 4 and 5. They get a whole week to prepare for it, for what they know is going to crack in three and six, Right?
Draymond Green
Absolutely. Three and six and four and five. I always felt like one and two are. You're kind of at a disadvantage because if you're the one seed, you're literally at the biggest disadvantage because you don't know who you play until two days before you play them. If you're the seven seed, you've been sitting on your opponent for four days.
Baron Davis
Yep.
Draymond Green
If you're the three through six seed, you've been on your opponent for six, seven days.
Baron Davis
Yeah.
Draymond Green
And so I've always felt like number one was at a disadvantage anyway. Like the biggest disadvantage. Which is crazy when you think about a playoff series. Bd you figure games one and two is usually call it within three to five days. Like from the end of game one, end of game two, somewhere in there you start getting to the seven day mark. You're like on game four and if you, you think about how much you know a team after game four, but that's after now seven days of studying this team, right? If you're three, two, six, you essentially are in game four in game one. From a studying standpoint, from a scouting standpoint, from a scout perspective, I think that that's an extreme. I mean, advantage for three through six and disadvantage for one and two since the playing tournament. Although I think it's been great, I think that's one of the downsides of it.
Baron Davis
And on top of that, you know, you the one seed, you got home court advantage. You sitting there, you like, man, it's kind of like it don't even matter. And if you catch the wrong team at the wrong time, that got the right momentum, you know, I think that's how we got Dallas. You know, you starting to see it more often now. Like Miami did it a couple times where they just, you catch a wave, you catch a wave and so on a lower C, you don't even care. You're fighting for your life. So you got rhythm, you got playoff atmosphere under your belt. You're almost more prepared than a week of practice or the two days that they need to prepare for you, right?
Draymond Green
That's a fact.
Baron Davis
They coming off of two games, or maybe it's three games. It could be three games. Yeah, it's two games. Playoff intensity, right? It's not the one seed, but they played y'all during the season anyway, so.
Draymond Green
Now they ready and in the west. That AC this year can be real like that AC this year be a team that is going to give OKC some trouble because it's a really good team and you know, OKC is really good. But I'm just saying, like, it won't be your typical one eight where you going in and you just kind of like, oh yeah, we know this one's a wash. It'll be a tough, tough series. And so I think that can get interesting. People always talk about the, you know, the rest, you know, the work versus resting. You know, do you play versus rest? Do you play? Do you rest? Which one is better? You always have that debate going on and now you gotta, you get to see it up close, you know, where you got a great one seed. You're going to have a really good ac. That AC is going to been had a couple playoff games under their belt, rolling into the one seed that Been chilling for a week. You know, okc. I'm sure they'll probably take this last game off. So that week all of a sudden becomes 10, 11 days, man.
Baron Davis
And that's a lot.
Draymond Green
That's a lot. That's a lot of time off, you know, when you're accustomed to playing every other day. So I think that could get interesting.
Baron Davis
You sharpening your tools, but you're not practicing. It ain't no real intensity, right? So you just sitting around working out, trying to stay in shape while everybody else is preparing for somebody and then everybody else is fighting to get to you. I mean, I'm excited for these playoffs, man. I'm telling you. I'm super excited. This is the feeling I had as a kid in the 80s and the 90s, 2000s, you know, the warrior run era. I think basketball people need to pay attention, man. It's cracking every night. Y'all out there cracking. Oh, it's cracking it. And like, it's so much talent in the league and the intensity and the level of play is really, it's on the rise. The competitiveness, the, you know, the physicality, people really, really having rivalries, talking shit to each other. All this is going to start percolating and people gonna see, oh, this era is real too.
Draymond Green
You feel me? That's a fact. That's a fact. Speaking of rivalries, man, I loved the other day watching Jai Ant play against each other in a high stakes game, guard each other in a high stakes game. I told y'all a couple weeks ago, man, my favorite two young guys to take the trash talking throne as those two guys, and they went out there and guarded each other like, let's face it, Ja not fit to guard, like. And when I say not fit, like, Ja, Ja small, man. How you shake? He got the heart of a lion. If you ever see Jai, he's small like, which makes what he does even more impressive, which makes the weight that he carry even more impressive. Because he, Jai ain't a big dude at all. For him to even go out there and say, no, I'mma take on the challenge and guard Ant, that to me just says something about his heart, about why he is who he is. Because that matchup ain't for him, man. On the flip side. And a big ass dude, like, right? And 6, 5, 6, 6, 220, like solid. And so just the size advantage in itself like that made it all the more impressive. Even Ja going to guard him now, I think when you Ant, man, what he has to look at next in his game is all right. I got to get off the ball now and maybe go get some post work. You know what I'm saying? He get in that post. He got Ja on me getting that post. You can make it hard on Ja now in saying that at a certain point in the game, Josh switched off and went in guard to somebody else. And because Scottie Pippen Jr. Was doing a great job on Ant, you know what I'm saying? And so.
Baron Davis
And he can defend.
Draymond Green
He can. And he. And he went and guarded Ant. But, man, just the respect that I. I been had respect for both of them young fellas. But you. You can. I gained even more respect just watching them come out in that meaningful game talking about a rivalry. You had everybody praising Jai. He next up, and he the next face of the league. And then, you know, he had his situation, and now it's like he, you know, everybody threw him by the wayside. You had.
Baron Davis
He ain't like the villain.
Draymond Green
Yeah, you got young Ant, man, who, like, I don't even want that. Like, I don't even want the face of the league. But it's that type of. That level of talent, and in a meaningful game for playoff standards, they guarded each other. So I respected that.
Baron Davis
Is there a thing with this younger generation when not wanting to be the face more so want to be the villain and take on a villain Persona? I was thinking about that the other day, like, when Ant said that, like, Ant don't want to be like, a hero. Like, oh, I'm Superman, you know, I'm the great American cover boy. I think he wants to be the villain, right? I think Ja, as he starts to embrace I'm the villain, he starts to fill out his personality on the court and his brand on the court. But I think these young dudes, they like being the villain, and I think they want to find who's the target. Like, who's the number one target guy outside of. I mean, you think like a wimby, like, they don't want to be that. They want to be like this. They want to be the villains, like, the upset guy, the shit talker. Right?
Draymond Green
I just think for them, it's more like they'd rather be the people's champs, right? But you look at where they both come from, it makes sense, you know what I'm saying? Like, they'd rather be the people's champs. And listen, I get it. I respect it. To each his own. I hate the whole conversation of face of the league. As if, like, the leagues just say, okay, it's you now. Here you go. Like, I hate that whole thing, but now that I got that out, when you speak on being the face of the NBA, there's just so much that comes with that. And in the day and age that we live in, there's even more that comes with that today than it than did 15 years ago. Like by a long shot. You know, just your life in general, there's just so much more that comes with it. And so you gotta think, man, most of these dudes, they're young, they love video games and they love, they play basketball, they play video games. And the generation that they come from, anything that takes you away from that, they don't really want it. Like, right. That's just the generation we're living in where streaming, it's video games, it's, you know, that is the generation that we keep speaking of on facing the NBA like that's where we are as far as age goes. And like when I look at kd, I don't think KD ever wanted to be the face of the league. But guess what? KD is more that generation of talking about when it comes to video games and like K want to play basketball and play video games and not do much else. That is this generation though now, guys, to the extreme. And so I think, you know, no one talks about that side of it. It's like the life side of it. Like how your life looks on a day to day basis. And some of these guys don't want that. But you look at the guys who do want it when B is more old school. Like if you listen to anybody talk about, I talked to CP after we played him in San Antonio about Wembley. Like if you talk to anybody about, he read a book every day. Like, he's more old school. Jason Tatum is more old school, you know what I'm saying? Jason Tatum isn't like, he's more of an older soul. Those are the guys that want it though, you know what I'm saying? But they don't. Their lives are different than say a job or at most of these young guys. Like JT got a couple kids, you know what I'm saying? His life is a little different where he don't play a bunch of video games. I think there's a philosophical difference that everybody's not talking about. Everybody's just looking at it through one lens, which is basketball.
Baron Davis
Yep. And then you have Jaylen Brown, Right. Who's a little different, who wants it, but is also, you know, not a media darling. Right. So you Know, the media wants a great superhero, right? But the people always love a good villain.
Draymond Green
Absolutely.
Baron Davis
That's the Persona that even the face of the NBA has to have. They have. Everybody thinks that they're a villain. Everybody wants to be the disruptor, the underdog, and you have to have that mentality. And I think, you know, that's what is required. It's the culture. It's the culture. They're a part of the culture. They're part of hip hop, they're part of what's trending. They're part of social media. You know, when you look at somebody like John Morant, right, and the celebrations, he's not that. That person. That is just what the culture is, right? Football players do it. You know, kids do it. But at the same time, there is a great responsibility to know what you're doing. But from that villain Persona, I think the league, you need that controversy. But it's not that these guys are like bad guys, right?
Draymond Green
No, that's a fact. They're not bad guys at all. Number one, you don't reach the level of success that they've reached just being bad guys. Like, it's hard in this day and age between social media, all these different things, to be a bad guy and kind of reach this point, you know. So they're not bad guys. They're successful black men.
Baron Davis
Yes.
Draymond Green
People go at you so much that, like, you almost get a villain mindset anyways, just because, like, you're subject to people going at you 247 to where you kind of have to almost, like, take on that just to push through it. You know what I'm saying? Like, you're not gonna keep just coming at me like that way.
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Baron Davis
Wow.
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Draymond Green
You know, even in Ja, you know, with his new celebration, which to me.
Baron Davis
Look like, hey, bro, that is hysterical.
Draymond Green
But probably play Call of Duty.
Baron Davis
You know, he probably be on Call of Duty. Like you said, they gaming, they on Call of Duty. They got all the antics.
Draymond Green
You know what I'm saying? That man said, but I'm taking my words. I'm taking my words. I'm throwing them out there and then I'm blocking. Listen, I respected y'all. Do what you gotta do, brother. If you just throwing your words out there and blocking out the noise, what they gonna say?
Baron Davis
They can't say nothing.
Draymond Green
They can't tell. You can't throw your words out there and not listen to anybody.
Baron Davis
That was sick. That was the sickest bar ever. Oh, that's a bar.
Draymond Green
Gotta give it to him on that one. That's real player right there, playboy.
Baron Davis
What else is cracking around the league? The firing of coach Mike Malone. What was your reaction to it?
Draymond Green
I had a few different reactions. Number one, Coach Mo is my guy. I love Coach Mo. I text Josh Kroenke before many years ago, and I text Josh and I. And it was around the time where they were kind of like, you could tell they were starting to turn that corner, but not quite there yet, looking to turn the corner. And around that time, it was like noise like, do Denver continue forward Mike Malone and. And they had a quick playoff exit, I think. And I text Josh and I said, don't be fooled by the noise. I think Mike Malone is your guy. Like, I think y'all got y'all guy. And sure enough, they end up winning a championship with their guy. And so my hunch was right. When I look at him being fired, though, you hear the reports of like people tired of his voice, they're tired of his hard coaching, these types of things. I'm sorry to say. But unfortunately that's why people don't win, because you get tired of hearing the voice that led you to being a winner. I will say, as someone who could be the voice that people get tired of at times, that's Helping lead you to winning. I get why you can get tired of it.
Baron Davis
You're not used to it.
Draymond Green
I totally understand. It ain't even that you're not used to it. It's that one thing that I know as a leader is I know people probably get tired of my voice at times. I'm not surprised that you get tired of my voice. Quite frankly, I don't give a shit whether you get tired of my voice or not, because I know what it takes to lead to winning. And so to hear people say coming out like, oh, yeah, they were getting tired of Mike Malone's horror style, like, it makes complete sense to me. Yeah, it makes complete sense to me. Like, people. But even aside from being a player, BD People get tired of being pushed. That's what it is. People get tired of being pushed, which is why people don't win over and over and over again, which is why only a select fewer people win, because people get tired of being pushed. And so I heard that, and it made complete sense to me. You know, another thing I heard that bothered me is people trying to put it on Russell Westbrook. Stop it.
Baron Davis
Oh, yeah, yeah. I need to stop the cap. That's crazy.
Draymond Green
Russell Westbrook make $3 million. You gonna tell me anything to do with a coach is the man that make three. If they. If Russell Westbrook could problem they $3 million, they pay him, they can send him home, pay go home. We don't even want you around here. Like to try to make this about Russell Westbrook. It's insane to me, man.
Baron Davis
That's crazy. I think the whole thing with Denver is they just got fatigue, right? You won a championship, you start eating the food. You start tasting more food as you were cooking. So now you start removing some of your ingredients. Meaning Bruce Brown, right? You start removing some of the kcp. You start removing and let go some key ingredients. And it's hard to replace that in the draft and groom that in young people and then try and get that in free agency. So what is missing is always going to be the main subject. And you can see last year, they got fatigued, right? They're just getting fatigued.
Draymond Green
Yeah.
Baron Davis
And so the run that they went on to win the championship was a crazy run. But when you played, what coach was pushing you every day, right? When the warriors, when y'all was winning, you know how to motivate yourself. Your voice may be annoying or dudes may get pissed off at times, but when you winning, you know, you need that now for a coach. You gotta Understand, there's a time to push these dudes, how to push these dudes. Where are we pushing to? Right? Because when you talking about your voice as a coach and you keep pushing, you keep pushing, at some point your player's gonna be like, yo, I had enough. I know what I'm doing.
Draymond Green
But who's the player in their locker room, B.D. that's doing that? Yoke don't talk much. Like Jamal Murray don't talk much. So who's the player on that team that's doing that, though? Or does the coach have to do it because they don't have a player? So you got Russell Westbrook, right?
Baron Davis
I think they fired the GM and they fired the coach because they weakened the batter, bro.
Draymond Green
What I'm saying, you got Russell Westbrook, who's that type of player, but I already know the type of vibe he going to come in on because that team won a championship before Russ going to come in. Like, all right, maybe I'm going to take a backseat here. I'm not going to do that there. I'm not the main guy here. And so although you could get that demeanor from Russell Westbrook, you're only going to get doses of it because somewhere there's probably a little self consciousness of like, they want a championship before. I ain't going to come in and press too much, you know? And so you may have to.
Baron Davis
They just, like, they just know your roster.
Draymond Green
They not the same team. But. But that's what happens when you start plucking key pieces to championships.
Baron Davis
Exactly, exactly.
Draymond Green
Like you just said, and trying to do it in the draft. Like, that's. That's a. That's a very tough thing to do. To say that the GM was mad that Russell Westbrook's playing over Jalen Pickett, like, that's crazy.
Baron Davis
That's what happens, right?
Draymond Green
That's ridiculous.
Baron Davis
Yeah, but that's. Stuff like that start happening because everybody wants to experiment, right? Everybody got an opinion. You've weakened the foundation by letting your key ingredients go. The warriors were smart about, man, we gonna hold the whole thing together and add maybe one or two guys in free agency, get a draft, and then you know who they're for a year. You know who you need to build a foundation. You got a bad mix of veteran guys and young guys, and you have nothing in the middle that those veteran free agents that you needed and needed to keep and sign, you didn't have them as your glue. So you really missing the glue. So when you look at Russ, Russ is. Is a Glue person. But he's not a glue person. Right. He's a complimentary piece and he's added value right to a team. But where do you fit if you not a glue guy? Because with the young dudes, they play a different style than the way Joker want to play. Or how Aaron Gordon, Joker and Porter, how all those dudes, Jamal Murray work together, they need KCP in that position. Then you need Russ coming in, working with the young dude. So everybody is out of predicament. And that's why you fired a gm. That's why I think the coach got fired. Because you can't. You can't be experimenting and trying to win the championship because you came off a championship two years ago. So, you know, it's like trying to find an identity with no identity. But that's. I also think that's why Joker is having a hell of a year.
Draymond Green
Because the team isn't as strong.
Baron Davis
Because the team isn't as strong. And they have. He has to do a lot more. Whereas before, Michael Porter can beat you, Aaron Gordon can beat you now, those are nights they have a hot night. But even Jamal Murray, like, as talented as he is, it's almost like, I mean, he has been getting injured, but he ain't. He has not taken it to that next echelon of where his talent was supposed to go. What we saw in the finals. And that's because you lost your key ingredients.
Draymond Green
It's hard to lose key ingredients on the championship team and think you can just replace them. It don't work like that, that's for sure. But a lot of people also spoke about, like, Reggie Jackson, like, they lost a lot. They lost pretty much their entire bench. You lose the game.
Baron Davis
But don't you think that's your personality too, Right? Cause you played on all these championship teams. A lot of these dudes, would you say, like, man, I need. That's my guy. I need him even though he don't play. The personality, right?
Draymond Green
Sometimes you keep a guy, you keep guys around and they may not play at all. Like, literally could be 14, 15th, man. And you tell them, Bob, like. Or Mike now. Like, you know, we. We need to keep that guy.
Baron Davis
Yeah.
Draymond Green
Like, we just need that guy on the team. Like, for the vibe, for something they bring. It ain't always about what this guy going to give us in those minutes. Like, and by the way, it's the NBA. Everybody can play. So it ain't like we saying, keep somebody who should be playing somewhere else. Like, they. It's an NBA player. But we need you to keep this guy for this reason. Like that. Like it ain't always just about basketball to make up of that team, the vibes. Like we go to dinners and like keep the vibe right amongst the team. You know what I'm saying? It could be like, yo, in the locker room, this dude always make us laugh and we be needing that when you down. Like it could be anything. It ain't just always in those couple spots. It ain't just always about necessarily the production on the court, right?
Baron Davis
It's the energy. It's that energy 1,000%.
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Yo, what's good? It's Jeff t from the Club520 podcast here with my fresh take on a 2025 NCAA tournament brought to you by Wendy's, the official hamburger of March Madness. What a great national championship game. There was a handful of things that stood out to me and why the Florida Gators won first, played a great second half and competed at a high level. The second reason, the defensive energy and the high execution on offense at the end of the game really, really stood out and they were able to get a win. Now, the tournament might be over, but remember the freshest deal in fast food gotta be Wendy's. Right now, you can get a junior bacon cheeseburger or a Double stack for $1 with the In App offer and a purchase. And again, head to the Wendy's app to grab $1 junior bacon cheeseburger or $1 double stack with the in app offer and a purchase for the freshest hamburgers around. It gotta be Wendy's, the official hamburger of March Madness.
Baron Davis
All right, man, let's get into some Dub Nation stuff. I know they want to hear about this last game, right? The intensity of the playoffs. Before we talk about the final game of the season, I want to talk about how would you describe the journey that has brought the team to this point? 236 since Jimmy joined the team. Game 82 is coming up. Talk about the journey of this team this year. And then where are you guys at coming into game 82 with a lot on the line at home versus the Clippers, you know, the two hottest teams to me in the west, definitely both.
Draymond Green
Playing great basketball, I think for this team. When I look back on this year, as you know, it's crazy because somebody asked me yesterday or two days ago, they like, man, I'm like, dang, man, we got two more games. And he was like, man, do it. Do it go by fast? And I said, not when you in it. And when you in it, it's like them things stacking on top of your head fast, like, piling up. You like, golly, game 45 in Indianapolis and it's freezing cold and snowing. You like, oh, my God, like I said. But then you get to the end of it and you look back like, hey, that flew by, you know? But when you going through it, it don't feel like it's flying by. It's slow. So in saying that, though, this year has been crazy. Like, when I look at this year, it's been a little all over the place. Like, we started off great, having an incredible year, got off to a great start, and then we kind of just couldn't find it. Like, we lost it and couldn't find it, but it felt like we were right there. And then obviously we make the trade at the deadline for Jimmy. And kind of what we thought all along was like, man, it just felt like we're missing one piece. Like, but we're right there. And then getting Jimmy, like I said at All Star, when I said, yo, I think when I said we're going to win the championship, I said that because I was like, oh, yo. Like, this is the Piece that I felt like we were missing, and we already wanted to shoot for a championship anyway. Now we got the piece. And so that's kind of been a year, like, started off great, awful. And, you know, we. We picked it back up. But it's been an incredible year. And they coming down to game 82, like you said. I think you always look back on some of those ones you gave away, like, man, if we had that one. But in saying that, you know, this is a tough challenge for us. It's a really good playoff team. They thriving at the right time. We thriving at the right time. Two great coaches, two incredible hall of Fame coaches. Like, what can you ask for as. As an NBA fan, Not as an NBA player. As an NBA fan, I'm excited. As a player, obviously, this is what you live for.
Baron Davis
Oh, man. Clipper Warrior rivalry. You know, I've been a part of that. I think I was the reason why I started, to be honest, the Warrior Clipper rivalry. I was probably the reason why that whole little thing shook out. You know, I've been coming to the games, playoff games, and to me, you two are the teams. The most complete team, veteran oriented. This is going to be a great matchup. You played in game Sevens, right? I feel like this is going to be that type of vibe 100%.
Draymond Green
Like, this is game seven. Like, both teams trying to solidify that spot. This is definitely a game seven atmosphere. You got to make those adjustments fast. You got one. One shot at it, one crack at it. So I'm looking forward to it. I tell you what, though, somebody from the warriors, man, we got to get BD on for the warriors as an ambassador so he can stop talking this Clipper stuff sometimes. You know what I'm saying? Raymond Ritter, whoever I need to talk to. Come on now, Mike. Come on now. All right, we're gonna just put that out there. I can't. It's a little. I feel this. And y'all ain't feeling this energy I'm feeling right now, but I'm feeling this energy on bd, Feeling like, you know, he. Like, yeah, he'll know where he really want to go, where he's supposed to go. And I know where he's supposed to go. I'm telling y'all now. Let's fix this. Let's make this right.
Baron Davis
Let's make it right.
Draymond Green
I know.
Baron Davis
I appreciate that Jay spoking about the true king himself now, but you got Kawhi playing well. You're gonna have to guard him. You got Zubak up for defensive player of the year. Came on strong. They're 3. 0 against you this season. What would a win on Sunday mean going into this playoffs?
Draymond Green
It'd be huge. Huge for the confidence, but huge just to solidify that spot, get that week off, rest up, know who our opponent is. You know, showdown with the Lakers, Bron and Steph. We know how that's. That whole thing has been for the last 10 years. Like, man, it'd be huge for everybody. But I think, you know, for myself and our team, like, you know, a team beat you three times, come out and take care of business. You know what I'm saying?
Baron Davis
Yep.
Draymond Green
You know, so I think this is a big opportunity for us. This is a new team for us.
Baron Davis
Yeah, one of those games. One of those games you and Steph didn't play, though. I remember that.
Draymond Green
Steph and I didn't play. But, you know, then they. They made some additions. Bogdanovich was. Was a big addition for them. Ben Simmons is playing minutes for them. You know, get him some versatility. So, yeah, then the biggest addition is getting Kawhi Leonard back. You know, he's. He look. He almost looked better than before he got hurt, man.
Baron Davis
That's crazy.
Draymond Green
It's bouncing.
Baron Davis
The way he catching. The way he come back, bro. The way he come back from an injury is like. Like, he. He stay at a level.
Draymond Green
This dude is Bionic man or something. Like, yeah, man, this dude's like, bionic man. Like, he just come back. Like, bro, you just came off of ACL surgery. This man just like, yo.
Baron Davis
Yeah, like, he never left.
Draymond Green
What is this, man? I don't understand it. Every time he come back from injury, it looked like Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard and Toronto Raptors. And I just don't understand it. So that's the biggest addition of all of them. Like, obviously getting him back. It's huge. Zubosz is playing even better than he was playing at the beginning of the year, and he was playing at a very high level in the beginning of the year. So. Team's playing great, but also, I think, you know, we know who we are now. You know, we have our identity and we ready to go. So be a great matchup.
Baron Davis
This could be the Western Conference finals matchup. This could determine the Western Conference finals in a major way.
Draymond Green
Yes, it can be.
Baron Davis
As we start to wrap up the season and talk about the end of the season, we got, of course, who you got into the season. Awards. First up, we Talked about this MVP, SGA Joker or CO MVPs. What do you think?
Draymond Green
I would love to see CO MVPs. I would love to see these voters, all hundred of them, call each other, tally up y'all votes so these guys can tie. Because I think it's incredible in saying that, have to pick one or the other. I have to guard Joker. I know how tough that is. It's extremely tough. I've seen people get fatigued off of greatness over and over again. LeBron James only has four MVP trophies. LeBron James was the MVP way more than four times in the NBA. So because people has done that, keep that same energy. What's been a big deal is being the best player on the best team. And not only is Shay the best player on the best team, but he's playing at such an elite level. It ain't like he the best player on a. On a even team and like he a little better. He's like, he is one of the best players in the NBA and has taken that team higher. So in saying that, just with what MVP has meant, with what the MVP has done, I think it's going to look crazy. In 10 years you put those numbers next, next to each other and be like, joke. Jokic didn't win. But in saying that, I got to go with sga.
Baron Davis
Got you SGA to your point. Defensive presence underrated this year still.
Draymond Green
Absolutely.
Baron Davis
Joker. The first center to average a triple double and for an entire series season. I mean, I like to see CO MVPs. Just so when we go back to history, people can go back and see the type of year that both of these players were having and how they were going back and forth in this climb for the MVP race. But if I have to side a vote, I would side for SGA because I watched this man play defense. I watched him lead his team. And to your point, he is just on a high, high level of frequency and. And he's pulled a lot of these talented guys on this team up to his level. Right. Playing at a level above.
Draymond Green
I think one of the most underrated things about the year SGA had is they spent an extended period of time this year with. With no center. They had. Hardenstein was out, Chet was out. And Jalen, with the bigger Jalen Williams was out. They were out there running five guards and still winning games.
Baron Davis
That's crazy.
Draymond Green
That is extremely impressive. And I just think another thing that kind of gives SGA the boost, even. Even when things weren't ideal, he still found a way to lead his teams to win. And I think you know that, that has, that says a lot.
Baron Davis
I agree. I totally agree.
Draymond Green
Most improved player. Who you got for most improved? Dyson Daniels, Austin Reaves.
Baron Davis
I would say Austin Reaves.
Draymond Green
A lot of people saying Cade Cunningham.
Baron Davis
Well, Cade Cunningham is too good. And he was so good last year that he's too good to be most improved. We expect that right out of Cade, and Cade expect that out of himself. And he's just living into his magic. He got the all star accolades and so what's next for him is, you know, consistent all stars. When you look at somebody like a Dyson Daniel coming out the G league and coming out of nowhere to make a name from himself, then you look at Austin Reeves, who was he a second round pick or undrafted?
Draymond Green
I think it was.
Baron Davis
I think he was undrafted. Right. Making a name for himself to stay on the Lakers to then being a fan favorite off the bench. Now being a bonafide NBA star. He's real. And he became a real household name and somebody you got to recognize this year and went from 15 to 20 points a game with LeBron with Luka still in the mix. So I would give it to Austin.
Draymond Green
Reeves and when it wasn't Luka ad, it was a AD and he was cracking with AD Yeah, absolutely. I gotta go with Austin Reeves as well. I think Dyson Daniels is right there. Cade Cunningham, no chance. Like you said, Case way too good. He been way too good for this award.
Baron Davis
And shout out to Dyson Daniels for making a name for himself. The work he put in, like he making Atlanta have somebody else to talk about besides what Trae Young is doing.
Draymond Green
Absolutely, I think. But when I look at Austin Reaves, he's been arguably the best third option in basketball. And when called upon and presented the opportunity, he's been an incredible two when called upon. And so I think to go from undrafted to that 15 points to 20 points, there's a big difference in the NBA of averaging 15 points to 20 points. Like you may look at that and be like, oh, that's only five points. A 15 point a night guy off night is six.
Baron Davis
Yes.
Draymond Green
A 20 point a night guy off night is 16.
Baron Davis
Yep. 15, 16.
Draymond Green
To put into perspective for you the jump that Austin Reaves has made to jump Your average from 15 points to 20 points, that is the. That's also the difference in like someone making $15 million a year and someone making $35 million a year like it. That is a drastic jump. And obviously we know he can pass the ball till he rebounds the ball. I think I got to go with Austin Reeves. Like you said, shout out to Dyson Daniels. I think what he's done is incredible. To see him playing at the level he playing at is great. But I got to go with Austin Reeves and I did not know JJ Redick was campaigning for Austin Reeves when he said the awards is the high pick award. That was on lottery pick. What did he say? Lottery pick that's now on a high contract that finally had nature.
Baron Davis
It was a campaign.
Draymond Green
I didn't realize that. J.J. you slid that one in but you got a point. My brother.
Baron Davis
He definitely made people think about the vote.
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Baron Davis
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That's.
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Yo, what's good? It's Jeff t. From the Club 520 podcast here with my fresh take on a 2025 NCAA tournament brought to you by Wendy's, the official hamburger of March Madness. What a great national championship game. There was a handful of things that stood out to me and why the Florida Gators won first, played a great second half and competed at a high level. The second reason, the defensive energy and the high execution on offense at the end of the game really, really stood out and they were able to get a win. Now, the tournament might be over, but remember the freshest deal in fast food gotta be Wendy's. Right now you can get a junior bacon cheeseburger or a double stack for $1 with the in app offer and a purchase. And again head to the Wendy's app to grab $1 Junior bacon cheeseburger or $1 double stack with the in app offer and a purchase for the freshest hamburgers around. It got to be Wendy's, the official hamburger of March Madness.
Baron Davis
Rookie of the year, easy.
Draymond Green
Stefan Castle, no question.
Baron Davis
Stephan Castle, no question. Love that kitty.
Draymond Green
Next up, no question, Stephan Castle. Easy. We're going to look back at this. Stephon Castle is going to be a star and of course he should have won rookie of the year. He going to be next to Wimy in San Antonio. Dynamic duo, back to back rookie of the years and it's all going to make sense. But Stefan Castle, no question is rookie of the year. And I'm going tell you this. Stephon Castle, when he improved that jump shot and I say win because I know he will because he's a willing. One of the biggest keys about being learning to shoot the ball with consistency is being a willing shooter. And he is willing no matter how many he miss in a row, he raising up, taking that next one. And I love that attitude. That kid is going to be a star. I'm looking forward to a rookie of the year. Congrats young fellas. Should be yours in the bag. We got coach of the year. Some say Kenny Atkinson. The Cavs were 48 and 34 in 23, 24. They increased that to 63 wins, possibly 64. Number one seed in the East. You got Ime Udoka, 41 and 41 last season, number 11 in the Western Conference standings. Fast forward to 20, 25. They have 52 wins. Could be 53, could have been 55. They've kind of bombed the last couple games like nonetheless, Ime Udoka has to be in the running. And then JB Bickerstaff, 14 wins to 44 wins.
Baron Davis
Damn.
Draymond Green
First season of coaching this team. He was the coach of the team that the the Cavs who Kenny Atkinson has now bumped up 15 wins to 63. Who you got those three guys. Coach of the year is this Kenny.
Baron Davis
Atkinson, first year with the Cavs.
Draymond Green
This is Kenny Atkinson's first year. He was with the dubs last year.
Baron Davis
That's crazy. And this JV Bickerstaff, first year with Detroit.
Draymond Green
This is his first year.
Baron Davis
Oh, this is a hell of a storyline. And what I would do is I would honor them both this would be a co coach of the year. You gotta do co coach of the year. Like I would give two awards out because it's just if it has to be one person, cool. But I don't think it should just be one guy.
Draymond Green
Eme udoka went from 11th to two.
Baron Davis
That's crazy. Too give them all an award. But you can't do that.
Draymond Green
You cannot do that. They all agree they're all deserving. They're all deserving, but you cannot do that.
Baron Davis
I mean, damn, that's too hard. If, if, if I'm voting. I don't know. That's too tough, dude. That's tough. They all matter. Like what JB did, taking Detroit from nothing to something or a playoff team. What IME did from last year, taking them to the 2 seed, showing a lot of promise. You know, people thought that Houston would have a team that's going to be in the playoffs. So you know, he over exceeded expectations. And then Kenny Atkinson came in and took over a job from a team and you know, damn near got them 20 more wins than what they had the year before. And a number one seed in the east. So if I have to give the award, it probably should go to Kenny Atkinson. With JB at a very, very close second, almost a tie. And IME at a very, very close second.
Draymond Green
I respect that. I think when you look at the system that Kenny has brought to that team, like they had talent already and he took that same talent and has turned that talent into what it should be. I think it's hard not to go with Kenny. I also think he turned Evan Mobley into a star. And when I say turned Evan Mobley into a star, understand that. I'm not saying Kenny Atkinson turned. Evan Mobley has worked his ass off to become.
Baron Davis
He unleashed the star.
Draymond Green
He put him in position to reach who he's supposed to become, which is a star in the NBA. And Evan Mobley's had an incredible year on both sides of the ball. He will be an all NBA performer. Evan Mobley, I think when you look at getting Darius Garland back to all star form, like Darius Garland was the lost man last year, like Darius Garland was on his way out of Cleveland, it was all going wrong. It looked like he had popped for a year or two and it was going the wrong way. Kenny comes in, pushed that confidence back into him, put him in a system where he can thrive in. And so I think when you're looking at that on top of winning 64 games, I gotta go with Kenny Atkinson. I think that's JB's incredible. To go from 14 to 44 wins. I think it's incre incredible. He made it go from 11. I'm a big fan of IME. Just the attitude that he may give his teams is crazy. Played against him in the NBA finals. He's going to Houston and taking a joke of a team after James Harden to the second seed in the west. Brought an attitude, stepped up and said the guys that he wanted. Bringing in Fred Van Vliet as a free agent was huge. You know what I'm saying? Like bringing in a veteran presence like Jeff Green was huge, you know, and these are all things that IME Udokas point out and say, no, I need this. And so bringing in Dylan Brooks, free agency, you know, people was off Dylan Brooks. Grizzly's off Dylan Brooks, he like, yo, bring him over here. Huge, you know what I'm saying? So what IME's done has been incredible and I think he right up there and deserving. But I think I gotta go with Kenny Atkinson on this one as well.
Baron Davis
Awesome.
Draymond Green
Sixth man of the year.
Baron Davis
Oh, Peyton Pritchard. That's easy.
Draymond Green
We got sixth man of the year. You got Peyton Pritchard or Malik Beasley?
Baron Davis
I got Peyton Pritchard. That's easy, man. The way he has improved. I had to put Peyton Pritchard up there also for most improved just to put him in that category. But talking about energy, you know, fire and a difference maker for Boston off the bench and another leader. They found another leader. They found another go to guy, which is crazy. And then not to discount what the season that Malik Beasley has had because he's been another part of that piston team, that 44, that 14 to 44 win turnaround. And he's been a great compliment and reliable source for Cade Cunningham. And so 312 threes this season, a Piston record shout out to Malik Beasley. But when we talking about six man and a difference maker and a game changer, somebody's coming in and change the game. I got to go to with Peyton Pritchard.
Draymond Green
I think Payton Pritchard's been incredible. He increased his points from 9 to 14, which is a big jump, you know, I think he's had a great year. 2, 251 made threes. Great year on a great team, won 60 games. But I got to go Malik Beasley on this. Malik Beasley has found a new home. 312 threes this season. I think both of these guys shoot threes. Malik Beasley is averaging 16 points off the bench. So he's winning in both of those categories and their team is winning. I, I think when you, you can look at record but obviously Boston's going to have a much better record than Detroit. They have a much better team than Detroit. But I got to go with Malik Beasley on this one. Hit your three hitcha shimmy player, your hip dance or whatever it is. But I think Malik Beasley is deserving. I think he should get it. I think he's earned it. That's who I'm rolling with.
Baron Davis
There it is. All right, last but not least, defensive player of the year. I will give you the floor because you know where my vote is going. What do you want to say about defensive player of the year? It's your last one.
Draymond Green
Oh, man. I think. Put it in the bag. That's what I think. Put it in the bag. Yours true. That's who I'm rocking with. You know, I think, listen, I think Evan Mobley has had a great year. Dyson Daniels has had a great year. I think, you know, Zubacc has had a great year. I think, you know, all those guys have had a great year. I ain't taking nothing away from them. And I see them on first team, all defense. But I think DPO wash should go to yours truly. I'll take that.
Baron Davis
Yeah, I got, I gotta rock with you, bro. You've been, you know, we talk about the season, the solid, consistent and you just meditary. You've had amazing moments. When you look at team defense and team awareness and having that anchor, I mean you're the guy. And look at, look at the warrior number. So shout out to you, you my pick. You've been my pick all year, man. Let's lock in. Let's go. Dub nation. Yeah. This is it. This is the last, this is the last season of the game, baby. The last game of the season. So let's get that defensive. Yeah, one more, one more defensive showcase and let's put that, put that trophy in the bag.
Draymond Green
Come on now. I appreciate you my dog. I hope so. But nonetheless, let's get this win tomorrow. We need you know what I'm saying? Get in these playoffs. That is a wrap from this episode of the Draymond Green show and the last show of the regular season of 2025. For all you guys out there in this NBA, for all you trainers out there, coaches out there, front office workers, community relations, public relations, NBA league office, NBA, Pennsylvania, referees, everybody, job well done. It's a well oiled machine. It continues to get better. Adam Silver, everybody who had a hand in making this season what it is. Job well done. Let's make these playoffs great. Keep it pushing till next time. That's a wrap from this episode of the Draymond Green show with the legend Baron Davis. BD My dog We out.
Baron Davis
And don't forget to follow us on all social media at the Draymond show. And we out. Foreign.
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Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "The Draymond Green Show w/Baron Davis: Steph & Warriors EPIC Showdown with Kawhi & Clippers + Nuggets Fire Michael Malone"
Release Date: April 13, 2025
Hosts: Draymond Green and Baron Davis
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Episode Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
The episode kicks off with Draymond Green welcoming listeners back to his show, introducing his co-host Baron Davis. They set the stage to discuss the intense NBA playoff race, focusing on the Warriors' showdown with the Clippers and recent developments with the Nuggets.
A. Current Standings and Playoff Implications
Draymond Green emphasizes the importance of winning the upcoming game to secure a playoff spot:
"We got an opportunity to control our own destiny. Win on Sunday and get into the playoffs." [02:37]
Baron Davis reflects on the team's journey throughout the season, highlighting the resilience needed to push through:
"It's been an incredible year. And they're coming down to game 82, like you said." [36:05]
B. Scheduling and Rest Advantages
A significant portion of the discussion centers around the advantages of different seed positions in the playoffs. Green points out that lower seeds (3-6) often have a strategic advantage due to additional preparation time:
"If you're the three through six seed, you've been on your opponent for six, seven days." [05:01]
Conversely, the top seeds (1-2) may find themselves at a disadvantage due to limited preparation time:
"Number one was at a disadvantage anyway. Like the biggest disadvantage." [05:01]
C. Upcoming Showdown: Warriors vs. Clippers
The hosts express excitement for the anticipated Game 82 matchup between the Warriors and Clippers, describing it as a potential "game seven atmosphere":
"This is game seven. Like, both teams trying to solidify that spot." [39:05]
Draymond underscores the significance of Kawhi Leonard's return to the Clippers:
"Kawhi Leonard is back, and he's bouncing back like never before." [41:12]
Baron adds depth by discussing Kawhi's resilience post-injury:
"He never left. The way he came back from injury is like he's bionic." [41:33]
A. Warrior-Clippers Rivalry
Baron Davis attributes part of the rivalry's intensity to his own influence:
"I was probably the reason why that whole little thing shook out." [38:24]
Draymond Green humorously teases Baron about his enthusiasm for the rivalry:
"We got to get BD on for the warriors as an ambassador so he can stop talking this Clipper stuff." [39:05]
B. Player Matchups and Respect
The conversation delves into specific player matchups, notably between Ja Ant and another guard:
"Ja small, man. How you shake? He got the heart of a lion." [09:42]
Baron discusses the evolving personas of younger players, highlighting their preference for embodying the "villain" role over being the "face" of the league:
"I think Ja, as he starts to embrace I'm the villain, he starts to fill out his personality on the court." [16:03]
A. Nuggets Firing Coach Michael Malone
The hosts express their opinions on the Denver Nuggets' decision to fire Coach Michael Malone. Draymond Green reveals his support for Malone:
"Mike Malone is your guy. Like, I think y'all got y'all guy." [23:05]
Baron Davis criticizes the move, suggesting it stems from fatigue and the inability to replace key team members:
"They just got fatigue... missing the glue." [25:34]
Draymond counters by highlighting the team's internal dynamics and questioning the blame placed on players like Russell Westbrook:
"If Russell Westbrook could problem they $3 million, they pay him, they can send him home." [25:37]
B. Importance of Team Chemistry
Baron emphasizes the significance of maintaining team chemistry and retaining key players for the overall vibe and success:
"It's the energy. It's that energy 1,000%." [32:52]
Draymond agrees, noting that team spirit often transcends individual contributions on the court:
"It ain't always about basketball to make up that team, the vibes." [31:59]
A. MVP Race: Nikola Jokić vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Draymond Green and Baron Davis debate the MVP contenders, ultimately favoring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA):
Draymond: "I gotta go with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander." [43:02]
Baron: "I would side for SGA." [44:21]
B. Most Improved Player: Austin Reaves vs. Cade Cunningham
Both hosts agree that Austin Reaves deserves the Most Improved Player award over Cade Cunningham:
Draymond: "I think he should get it. I think he's earned it." [46:37]
Baron: "I would give it to Austin." [46:01]
C. Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson vs. Ime Udoka vs. JB Bickerstaff
A heated discussion ensues regarding the top coaching candidates, with a slight preference for Kenny Atkinson:
Draymond: "I gotta go with Kenny Atkinson." [56:07]
Baron: "I think it probably should go to Kenny Atkinson." [54:20]
D. Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green vs. Evan Mobley vs. Mikal Bridges
In a surprising twist, both Draymond and Baron nominate Green himself for Defensive Player of the Year:
Draymond: "DPOW should go to yours truly. I'll take that." [60:02]
Baron: "You've been my pick all year, man." [60:34]
A. Anticipation for the Final Regular Season Game
Draymond reflects on the emotional weight of the final game, acknowledging the highs and lows of the season:
"When you going through it, it don't feel like it's flying by. It's slow." [36:05]
B. Playoff Strategies and Expectations
Both hosts express optimism about their team's ability to perform in the playoffs, stressing the importance of winning the final regular-season game to gain momentum:
Draymond: "This is a big opportunity for us. This is a new team for us." [42:42]
Baron: "Let's make this right." [40:04]
C. Final Thoughts and Season Reflection
As the episode concludes, Draymond and Baron commend the efforts of all involved in the NBA season, from players to front-office staff:
"Job well done. Let's make these playoffs great." [61:16]
Draymond signs off with gratitude towards the listeners and a call to action to follow their social media channels:
"This is the last show of the regular season of 2025. ... We out." [61:16]
Draymond Green:
"We got an opportunity to control our own destiny. Win on Sunday and get into the playoffs." [02:37]
Baron Davis:
"It's the energy. It's that energy 1,000%." [32:52]
Draymond Green:
"DPOW should go to yours truly. I'll take that." [60:02]
Baron Davis:
"You've been my pick all year, man. Let's lock in. Let's go. Dub nation." [60:34]
This episode of "The Draymond Green Show" with Baron Davis provides an in-depth analysis of the NBA's current playoff landscape, highlighting team strategies, player dynamics, and coaching decisions. The hosts offer passionate insights into award predictions and reflect on the season's journey, culminating in a motivating call to action as the playoffs approach. Fans of the Warriors, Clippers, and Nuggets will find this episode particularly engaging, offering a blend of expert opinions and heartfelt camaraderie between two basketball veterans.