Paul Pierce made Boston Celtics fans happy this week. Draymond Green, not so much.
The Los Angeles Clippers forward announced in an interview on SiriusXM radio he’d retire as a Celtic after the 2016-17 season. But in that same interview, Pierce weighed in on one of the NBA’s hottest topics: Kevin Durant’s decision to spurn the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency and join the front-running Golden State Warriors. Pierce wasn’t too fond of the move.
“I could have left Boston years ago, but I stuck it out,” Pierce told SiriusXM on Thursday. “I just feel like when you’re that close, as a competitor, you don’t go join the team that just put you out.”
“That’s just me personally, but we’re living in a day and time where there’s a new generation. I don’t think they are as hungry or competitive as my generation was, and that’s why you’ll probably see more of that.”
The Warriors have heard the criticism that they’re stacking the deck ever since Durant signed in July. And apparently Pierce’s comments put Green over the edge, because the Golden State forward went off on the issue Thursday.
“You got all these guys talking,” Green said, via NBA.com. “Like Pierce (Thursday) — like, dude, nobody care(s) what you did or who you did it for. Just give it a break.”
Green compared Durant leaving OKC to the CEO of Apple moving to Google, pointing out that it’s just “business.”
“But there’s so many guys in this league that are so stupid they don’t think like that,” Green went on. “They don’t think business wise. … Aren’t you competitive in your day job if you work for Apple? Don’t you want to outdo Google? What’s the difference on the basketball court? It’s your day job. You want to do what’s better for you.”
“… I’ll never understand it. So that’s just me. And I’d be willing to bet my salary ain’t many guys in this league more competitive than me.”
Green and Golden State will have a target on their backs all season, so don’t expect this talk to quiet down any time soon.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
