Draymond Green on Spurs Comparisons, Ref Tensions, and the Flaws of MVP Voting

When the conversation turned to comparisons between the dynastic Warriors and the legendary San Antonio Spurs of the 2000s, Green was quick to acknowledge the immense honor. The Spurs, led by Coach Gregg Popovich and the core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili (with David Robinson early on and Kawhi Leonard toward the end), represent the pinnacle of sustained excellence in the modern NBA.

“I mean, that’s been the golden standard since 2000 in basketball,” Green stated, emphasizing the consistency achieved by the San Antonio franchise. “Everyone strives to be able to have that type of consistency and what you’re trying to build; you don’t see it often so if you can get into that space to be compared to those guys, that’s such INCREDIBLE company.”

The comparison speaks volumes about the Warriors’ own run of success and their place in history, a legacy Green deeply appreciates being part of.

Bridging the Divide: Finding Middle Ground with Referees

The relationship between players and referees is often tense, characterized by heated arguments and mutual frustration. For Green, the path to a smoother game lies in eliminating the “us vs. them” mentality that currently pervades the dynamic.

“They need to stop looking at it as ‘us vs them,’ you know? I feel like they look at it that way and I feel that we look at it that way,” Green observed. He believes that recognizing a common purpose is key to easing the friction. “At some point, you can understand that we all work together to put a great product out for the fans of this game, then we’ll all be on the same page. But I think until we get to that point there will always be tension.”

The Weight of Opinion: Changing the MVP Voting Process

Perhaps Green’s most thought-provoking comments came when discussing the process for voting on major NBA awards, specifically the MVP. He expressed frustration with the subjectivity involved, considering the enormous impact these honors have on a player’s career and legacy.

“These awards have such a huge bearing and carry a very huge weight in people’s eyes and unfortunately just being an opinion? It’s tough,” Green admitted. He noted that opinions are easily swayed: “My opinion can be affected by just me saying ‘I don’t like you.’”

Green pointed out the monumental significance of winning such an award—having your name “etched in stone in NBA history”—and argued that such an honor shouldn’t rest solely on a subjective judgment.

“It’s so opinion-based and the weight that these things carry in people’s lives not only today, but forever,” he stressed. If he were in charge of the process, his fix would be simple: “So I think just if there was more of a criteria, that’s what I would change.” Green’s proposal suggests a desire for greater objectivity and a more defined set of standards for recognizing the league’s most valuable player.