Not everyone loves the Oklahoma City Thunder’s postgame tradition. But not everyone loves Draymond Green, either.
The embattled Golden State Warriors forward is on his way to becoming a media star—and has done so through his podcast platform, which he now shares with Baron Davis. While still an active player in the NBA, Green hasn’t exactly shied away from tackling or criticizing topics that others probably wouldn’t touch.
The latest iteration is Green taking issue with what’s become a tradition in OKC. The young Thunder were the breakout stars of the NBA last season, winning 56 games and capturing the first seed in the Western Conference while endearing themselves to basketball fans with personality and joy.
They just haven’t endeared themselves to Green, who took issue with their spirited energy.
The best display of that youthful exuberance is through MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates on their nightly postgame tradition of barking at the end of their “walkoff” interviews with Bally Sports Oklahoma. They are dogs, after all. Get it?
Well, Green doesn’t get it.
“The one thing I see with the OKC team that’s little alarming for me is their postgame,” Green said. “Seven guys in the interview. There’s a certain seriousness it takes to win in this league. And there’s a certain fear you have to instill in the team, in order to win. I just don’t know if they’re instilling that fear in teams with all the bromance and stuff after the game.”
“You should have fun, but you have to understand, their moment is now — their moment started last year,” he added. You go out, you had that great regular season, your clock starts now. You’re no longer the team that’s just building through the draft; you’ve arrived.”
But part of that arrival is rooted in the joy and camaraderie they share with each other — and, yes, even the broadcasters. They have a special connection with Nick Gallo of Bally Sports Oklahoma, often treating him like one of their own and occasionally choosing to bark with him rather than defer to national media stars like TNT’s Allie LaForce.
Maybe they’re not “instilling fear” in their opponents just yet, but they’re building something equally important. For this young Thunder squad, barking and laughing doesn’t mean they aren’t serious; it’s just their way of staying true to themselves.
Even if Draymond Green doesn’t necessarily see it that way.