Landon Buford
Warriors star Draymond Green responded to the polarized comments of radio host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo On a recent edition of the Draymond Green Show.
The former radio show host turned television personality made headlines earlier this week when he stated that “He’s [Green] so hard to root for. So, shut up and play, will you please? “America is tired of Draymond Green.” After Green flipped two birds over fans of the Memphis Grizzlies. They applauded when Green was injured in the Warriors-Grizzlies playoff series.
Russo’s comments came on ESPN’s First Take, where another analyst and former NBA star JJ Redick called Russo and compared his remarks to the commentary heard on Fox News.
“He signed a talent deal with Turner because people want to hear what Draymond has to say. The reason they want to hear what Draymond has to say is because, just like in his press conference, he is real, authentic, and unfiltered,” Redick replied. “It’s what makes him great. It’s what makes him a future Hall-of-Famer. It’s the reason he is who he is. It’s just like saying, ‘Hey, Ja Morant. Stop dancing when your teammate makes a three.’ The reason Ja Morant is great is because, he plays with joy and fun and a carefree attitude, and fearlessness. You can’t take away what makes a player great.”
Green shared that Russo’s comments had “racist connotations on his most recent episode, ” echoing Redrick’s comments that he didn’t appreciate Russo’s undertone.
“I’m not sure where this Bad Dog guy came from,” Green said. “I’ve really noticed him, maybe over the course of the last couple of months, going up and just screaming to the top of his lungs when he’s sitting next to Stephen A.
“Yesterday, he goes on TV, and he says, ‘America is tired of Draymond Green. ‘ I’m not sure what gives him the right to speak for America. What he’s done in his life — he sits in on Stephen A.’s show and screams,” said Green.
“So I’m not sure who he’s become in sports or media to say how America feels and what gives him that right. But we’re not shocked that he would think that he has the right to speak for America.’
Adding, “He then proceeds to say, ‘shut up and play.’ I’m not really one to pull the race card very often, since we all know the role that race plays in the world we live in. But that definitely had a very racist connotation — just, a very racist undertone. And even beyond it having the racist undertone, we don’t need to go any further than, ‘who are you?’ Like, what have you done in your life to say ‘America is tired of him. Shut up and play.’ Shut up and play?”
The three-time NBA champion would later reveal that he was offered a spot on ‘First Take’ before ultimately deciding to sign with Turner Sports.
“As I said on my Instagram the other day, those ‘shut up and play, shut up and dribble’ days — those are long gone. We don’t listen to that anymore. We don’t want to hear it anymore. It has no place here, and nor will it be tolerated. I also proceeded to say, it’s time for you to go home and sit on your couch, and thank the good lord that I didn’t want his job. I meant that from the bottom of my heart. Before I, signed by Turner, I was actually offered a spot on “First Take.” So, there’s your backstory. I don’t play games. …”
Draymond Green has now turned his attention to Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies as the series shifts from Memphis to San Francisco for game three. The game can be seen on TNT at 8:30 pm EST.
