Word got back to Warriors forward Draymond Green on Tuesday that Charles Barkley wanted to smack him. Green had a simple response (paraphrasing): Bring it, old man.
Green apparently annoyed Barkley by going chest to chest with Pelicans guard Rajon Rondo at halftime of the Warriors' Game 2 victory. ("He's a competitor and I'm a competitor," Green told reporters after the game of the encounter.) Chuck was so peeved that he said on TNT's halftime show he wanted someone to hit Green, and then he volunteered to do it himself.
Chuck talking about how badly he wants someone to punch Draymond Green in the face. pic.twitter.com/CSquerYdiX
— Good Takes Pod 🏀 (@GoodTakesNBAPod) May 2, 2018
When asked to respond, Green invited Barkley to back up his talk the next time the two are in the same arena.
Draymond Green with a strong response to Charles Barkley saying he would punch him in the face pic.twitter.com/tBLRAei3zW
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 2, 2018
"Punch me in the face when you see me, or not. No one cares what you would have done," Green said. "He's old and it is what it is."
NBA PLAYOFFS: Scores, schedules | Curry excels in return
In fact, Green is half Barkley's age, as we see in this quick tale of the tape:
— Green: 6-7, 230 pounds, 28 years old.
— Barkley: 6-6, 252 (both figures have changed since his playing days; one down, one up), 55 years old.
Trash talk aside, Green did raise a legitimate point about the propriety of a media member making such statements.
More Draymond: "I'm an employee of the NBA, he's an employee of TNT. And you have your biggest sponsor, one of the faces of that company, saying that on national television. That's embarrassing for them. So that's something -- a problem that they have."
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 2, 2018
Some of what Draymond said after his podium statement: "I think it's pretty sad. It's probably something that needs to ... when you look at the president of TNT, David Levy, which I know well, it's kind of embarrassing on their behalf ...
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 2, 2018
Although I should point out that Draymond said he's not upset. "I don't get upset by a guy who just talks," Green said. "It is what it is. But it's still embarrassing on their behalf."
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 2, 2018
You knew at least one person would have Green's back: his mom, Mary Babers Green . . .
@NBAonTNT Charles Barkley I wish you would.. you think Shaq had you RUNNING! #MANGONE
— MBG (@BabersGreen) May 2, 2018
. . . who went right at Chuck's history of being, well, an instigator who failed to follow through.
He would not have done nothing but run like he did when he started the fight between Dr. J & Bird! @NBAonTNT
— MBG (@BabersGreen) May 2, 2018
Maybe Barkley really is mad at Draymond Green for being an instigator and an occasionally dirty player, or maybe he's just trolling everyone.
Either way, Green took the bait, so now it's a thing — in fact, it's just one more thing in an increasingly nutty second round of the 2018 NBA playoffs.
