Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, the heart and soul of the team, took 2019-20 Media Day by storm with his stinging critique of the NCAA in the wake of California Governor Gavin Newsom signing the so-called “pay to play” act into law, allowing college athletes to profit from their likeness, names and signatures.
In full support of the law, Green said:
Someone needs to force this dictatorship to change. The NCAA is no different than any country that is run by a dictator. The NCAA is a dictatorship.
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m tired of seeing people get ripped off. And I’m tired of seeing these athletes get ripped off.
Green colored those comments with personal experiences of being a broke college student barely getting by while others at the university, from coaches to president, live comfortably.
Green was asked about the prospects for the 2019-20 season, too, and his role as a leader to younger guys whose interests differ greatly from his own. For starters, he wanted someone to go with him to a Janet Jackson concert at Chase Center and the younger guys were indifferent to the performer he values as a legend.
Here’s what he had to say about leadership, his extension and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics:
On his method for leading the younger guys
Get to know the younger guys, their way of life and how they go about things.
On the team’s new-look roster
There’s a lot of unknowns, but it is exciting. It’s a new challenge now which, as a competitor, is exciting. We’ve been to the mountaintop with the previous group and, now, can we do it again? That will be our focus moving forward.
On signing an extension in the offseason
I didn’t want to come into the season dealing with [free agency stuff]. It’s kind of a headache. I really wanted to put it behind me [before the season].
On team’s need for stronger defense this season
I definitely won’t have to guard five people, but I’m definitely gonna have to step it up. But, again, we have to find our identity … find what works best for this group. We’ve just got to figure it out and once we’ve figured it out, it’ll be fine.
On the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
I’m actually planning my wedding around it, so I hope I make the [national] team.
Green also restated his desire to retire with the Warriors and explained how he, a Spartan, will deal with the Wolverines on the team. “I’ll manage those players, as Warriors,” he said.
