Draymond Green has carved out an All-Star role for himself on the NBA’s best team despite being an undersized center at 6’7. That size, which he plays much larger than thanks to positioning, strength, and long arms, draws comparisons to a Hall of Famer that also was a dominant player in the post and a hellacious rebounder despite being only 6’6, Charles Barkley.
However, when asked by a reporter if he would consider himself the modern day Charles Barkley, Draymond gave an emphatic response, per ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
“Hell no,” Green said. “I’m the modern-day Draymond Green. F*ck no.”
Green continued on to explain his stance, pointing out that Barkley was in no way a role model for him growing up. Green’s physical style and trash-talking was a product of his environment, not a desire to be like Barkley.
“I was raised by Mary Babers. In the Babers family, that’s what you do. You speak your mind,” Green said. “I wasn’t a Charles Barkley fan growing up. No disrespect to Chuck, either, he’s a great player.”
While Barkley wasn’t an influence on a young Green, Draymond did say he has watched some Barkley tape as he’s gotten older and recognized the physical similarities that many have pointed to. However, don’t try to tell him that he and Barkley are one in the same, or even that he’s the new Barkley.
“As I got older I watched his game, cause I knew he was undersized and the things he could do, and I could try to add some of that stuff to my game. [Barkley] told y’all in ’90-what that he wasn’t your kid’s role model anyway. So there you have it,” Green said. “He wasn’t my role model. I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. That’s what you do, you talk. You talk junk during basketball. That’s how I was raised. I was raised in a family like that, so I didn’t need a Charles Barkley to influence me.”
Draymond is Draymond and no one else, and he’ll be the first to tell you.
