Golden State Warriors two-way playmaker Draymond Green has become one of the most vocal players in the league.
For fans that have followed his NBA career, Green’s character arc naturally led to that outcome. Intense playoff battles have brought out his fire. Becoming a core member of a dynasty team has added to his self-confidence. Friendships with megastars like LeBron James have boosted his popularity.
Yet, Green’s as unpredictable as they come, on and off the court. With that being said, his latest revelation has come as a shock to the NBA world.
Warriors’ Draymond Green Reveals When He’ll Retire
“I’m on the wrong side of my down slide, like I’m headed into Year 13,” Green tells the Club 520 podcast.
“I probably got two more (years),” the four-time NBA champion reveals. “So, it’s important to start building for the next thing.”
The ‘next thing’ for Green appears to be his podcast, The Draymond Green Show. Produced by The Volume, Green’s show is among the most popular in the basketball world. Due to his background and basketball IQ, he’s able to speak from a perspective that many others cannot. His being outspoken and eloquent has only contributed to the success of his off-court endeavor.
Green also has made regular appearances as a basketball analyst and broadcaster on Inside the NBA. A halftime show aired on TNT, Inside the NBA has been beloved by hoops fans looking for humor as much as perspective. However, Inside the NBA will no longer be produced with the NBA reaching a media deal with Amazon Prime Video.
As a result, it isn’t just Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson who were impacted. Part-time co-hosts like Green are too. For an individual who clearly hopes to make a name for himself in the media industry, it’s unfortunate.
Flying Under The Radar
Never one to bite his tongue, Green also had choice words for players struggling to build a following:
“But for some of these guys they be in Year 3 still trying to figure it out with the podcast. Like I love that you’re doing it, I love that you found something that you want to do, but you in Year 3 and ain’t done s***, nobody really want to hear from you.
You know what I’m saying.”
With the podcasting wave that took over during the COVID-19 lockdown, Green is far from the only person or player with a podcast. Indeed, there are 4.2 million active podcasts being produced worldwide, per What’s The Big Data. However, as Green notes, the hosts with the largest audience also have proven themselves as authorities on specialized topics. As it relates to the NBA, Green’s success with and impact on the Golden State Warriors dynasty has given him prestige.
In comparison, take a player like Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. Maxey also has a podcast, dubbed Maxey on the Mic. As the 2024 Most Improved Player, Maxey has raised his profile among basketball fans. Nonetheless, his show hasn’t generated much attention.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. are two other players without much of a following for their podcasts. Young hosts From the Point, speaking on topics concerning him without his words being filtered through an NBA insider. Porter hosts Curious Mike, a Q&A style podcast that touches on various and seemingly random subjects.
Young and Porter have been relatively successful since entering the league. Young is a three-time All-Star and the most talented player the Hawks have had in at least a decade. Porter is an NBA champion whose perimeter shooting has made him a well-known sniper. However, neither have figured out a recipe for success, their podcasts flying largely under-the-radar.
