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Former Rockets Star Fires Back at Draymond Green’s 'Hate' Comment

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Apr 29, 2025 1:12 PM ET

An intense Game 4 came down to the wire between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, but the Warriors emerged from the battle with a 109-106 victory that puts the second-seeded Rockets on the brink of elimination in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The fireworks on the court were typified by a viral interaction between Warriors star Jimmy Butler and the Rockets' Dillon Brooks, but the drama continued post-game as Golden State forward Draymond Green took exception with comments that former Rockets guard Eddie Johnson made on X.

Johnson, who won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award in 1989, called out TNT analyst Reggie Miller for "cheering on Draymond and (the) Warriors with pom poms" during Game 4. Green responded early Tuesday morning, claiming that there are players from Johnson's generation who "don't sit around and hate."

Hold up. So I am hating because I am messing with an ex teammate? Maybe if New School Media does its research you would have known that! https://t.co/vsfgwMmxDK
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) April 29, 2025

But later on Tuesday, the longtime Phoenix Suns analyst Johnson said he was only "messing" with Miller, who was his Indiana Pacers teammate for two seasons. It put the initial comment -- and Draymond's response to it -- in a new light.

"So I am hating because I am messing with an ex-teammate?" Johnson wrote. "Maybe if New School Media does its research you would have known that!"

The post served as a barb toward Green's off-court presence, centered on "The Draymond Green Show" he hosts on YouTube. The four-time NBA champion has proudly touted his podcast as a "new media" endeavor, aiming to bring fans closer to the daily NBA grind with unique, unvarnished analysis that goes against traditional broadcast media.

It remains to be seen if Green addresses the controversy when he breaks down the Warriors' Game 4 win on his channel -- not to mention whether Golden State can close out the series in Houston on Wednesday night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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