“I don’t pay much attention to anybody in Cleveland. They don’t seem to be the sharpest people around.” – Draymond Green#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/mlHt9hOPFo
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 10, 2017
Draymond Green already didn’t have many friends in Cleveland heading into Game Four of the NBA Finals on Friday night. Not only did he want to win on Cleveland’s turf and celebrate another championship with the Warriors in enemy territory, he also managed to get into some controversy with his non-ejection after receiving what appeared to be his second technical foul of the game. It caused a great deal of confusion for Green and continued to make him a target for Cleveland fans, a fact that he addressed after the game by pouring more gasoline on the fiery relationship:
“I don’t pay much attention to anybody in Cleveland. They don’t seem to be the sharpest people around.”
As Jack Maloney over at CBS sports points out, this isn’t exactly the most creative trash talk from someone of Green’s caliber. He is one of the few to keep the spirit of trash talk alive in today’s game, after all.
Draymond Green didn't hold back when asked about Cavs fans. https://t.co/GTyK8gNBaP pic.twitter.com/2tgmSnx4ud
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2017
But even with it being a simple burn on the fans in Cleveland, it still didn’t sit well with many:
Draymond Green said that Cleveland people aren't the "smartest people around" ?
Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of donkeys.
— Rahul Venkatesh (@TheRealVenk) June 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/__JustDrewIt__/status/873534151126917121
https://twitter.com/coolout1/status/873545550800588800
https://twitter.com/curljoey5/status/873539474080313349
Who actually likes Draymond Green? I have NEVER seen him show any class. Trashing on the #Cleveland fans after the game just underlined it.
— Seth Hoffman (@nyc_seth) June 10, 2017
I'm sure it's just Cleveland and all the other NBA cities show him nothing but love and respect for his sportsmanlike efforts.
— R.S (@ThoughtsofRS) June 10, 2017
I'm sure @ClevelandClinic would be willing to give @Money23Green a complementary rectal exam.
— Skip Coogler (@SkipCoogler) June 10, 2017
Probably the most visible person to take offense to Green’s comments was Cleveland native and broadcaster Vince Cellini on NBA TV. While he saved the tougher comments for Twitter, Cellini defended the city and the culture it brings to the table. He also made sure to note that the series was 3-1 once again, a possible repeat of last year’s Finals.
Cleveland native @Vince_Cellini took exception to Draymond Green’s postgame comments… ? #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/2IGb8EjHih
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 10, 2017
