The first week of the NBA season is already revealing which teams look prepared to challenge for the championship and which appear to be pretenders. Draymond Green has typically been part of contenders, with the Golden State Warriors spending the past decade among the Western Conference’s elite. Few players understand winning basketball as well as Green, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James given their extensive playoff experience.
Green has used his podcast to discuss the current state of the league and has become one of the few active players to openly criticize other active players and teams. The former Defensive Player of the Year recently named a few squads he believes can truly contend for a title this season.
Passionate New York Knicks fans took exception to Green saying he doesn’t view them as legitimate contenders. “The Knicks, I just don’t believe that they’re contenders,” Green said on his podcast. “I don’t think they have what it takes to win at the highest level. I think you can stifle their offense and make it hard on them. Ultimately, guys that don’t really want to defend make it tough to win at the highest level.”
Draymond Green Doesn’t Buy Knicks Hype
The Knicks are currently the fourth favorite at +1200 to win the NBA championship, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Green’s Warriors sit just behind them at +1400 as the fifth favorite. Golden State has seen its odds improve, while New York remains viewed as a secondary contender.
The main reason for the hype surrounding New York is the perceived weakness of the Eastern Conference this season. Unless teams like the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic take a major step forward, few see anyone outside the Knicks and Cavaliers as legitimate Eastern Conference contenders.
Green’s point wasn’t about winning the East, however. He made it clear that he doesn’t believe New York’s roster has championship DNA. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges have each reached the conference finals multiple times, while OG Anunoby has an NBA title to his name. Still, Green doesn’t see this group as one capable of winning it all.
Knicks Can Prove Draymond Green Wrong
Green believes his experience and contributions to winning at the highest level make it easier for him to recognize which players and teams possess the “it” factor. He has criticized Rudy Gobert for years, citing the center’s defensive drop-off in the playoffs and inability to adapt to his team’s needs in crucial moments.
The Knicks won’t face the Warriors until later in the season, with one matchup scheduled for January and the other in March. By then, the league should have a clearer picture of which teams are true contenders. New York will have the chance to silence Green by stacking up regular season wins and defeating his Warriors head-to-head.
Ultimately, the real answer to Green’s criticism won’t come until playoff time. The Knicks will likely have an easier path than any Western Conference team because of the difference in competition between the two leagues. For New York to truly prove Green wrong, a championship banner must hang from Madison Square Garden.
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