Austin Rivers pushed back sharply on Draymond Green’s reflections about his offensive role during the Golden State dynasty, calling the idea that he was limited as a scorer “comical” during a recent appearance on the To The Baha podcast.
Rivers questioned the premise that Green should have been a central scoring option alongside elite teammates, pointing to the historical context of the roster. “This guy to have the delusion and I said the word delusion to think that you’re supposed to be the point a more focal point of a offensive threat scoring-wise,” he said, via HoopsHype.
He expanded on the structure of the championship teams built around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant, stressing that scoring hierarchy was already defined. “We’re talking about scoring with Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry on your team… Wiggins was the second option on another team… Wiggins was the fourth option on that team.”
Rivers emphasized that the supporting cast also played defined roles, adding that Golden State’s depth distorted typical NBA roster structures. He also referenced Jordan Poole and others as part of a system where offensive focus was not distributed equally.
The former guard was direct in his conclusion about Green’s recent comments regarding coach Steve Kerr potentially limiting his offensive development. “So for him to come out after everything his career has amounted to the Hall of Fame… and say, ‘I should have been more of a focal point of an offensive threat and Steve Kerr hindered my career.’ I’m sorry… it’s comical. Okay? It’s comical. It’s comical.”
Rivers also pointed to Green’s on-court freedom during Golden State’s title runs, arguing opportunity already existed within the system. “He could have shot at any time. He was open. Every time he had the ball, he was open. He could have shot a shot anytime he wanted to.”
Despite the criticism, Rivers made clear he was not diminishing Green’s legacy or impact on championship success. “Draymond’s a Hall of Famer. That’s why he’s made 200 plus million dollars and is in the Hall of Fame… The Warriors don’t win championships without Draymond Green.”
He further compared Green’s role to historically similar figures, placing him in the same category as elite role players who shaped title teams without being primary scorers. “When we talk about the Dennis Rodmans, Draymond Green’s in that conversation. He is absolutely in that conversation and he has earned his right.”
Rivers, however, drew a final line between accepting a role and publicly questioning it. “You don’t ever see Dennis Rodman on a podcast talking about, ‘man, I should have shot the ball more… Phil Jackson hindered my career.’ Never. Never.”
Green’s recent comments had centered on reflecting on his offensive evolution in Golden State’s system, noting that since 2016 there were no set plays run for him and suggesting it may have shaped what he could have become offensively.
