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 inĀ on one of the NBA’s hottest topics: Kevin Durant’s decision to spurn the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency and join theĀ front-running Golden State Warriors. PierceĀ wasn’t too fond of the move.
āI could have left Boston years ago, but I stuck it out,” Pierce told SiriusXM on Thursday. “I just feel like when youāre that close, as a competitor, you donāt go join the team that just put you out.”
āThatās just me personally, but weāre living in a day and time where thereās a new generation. I donāt think they are as hungry or competitive as my generation was, and thatās why youāll probably see more of that.”
TheĀ 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 thereās so many guys in this league that are so stupid they donāt think like that,” Green went on. “They donāt think business wise. …Ā Arenāt you competitive in your day job if you work for Apple? Donāt you want to outdo Google? Whatās the difference on the basketball court? Itās your day job. You want to do whatās better for you.”
“…Ā Iāll never understand it. So thatās just me. And Iād be willing to bet my salary aināt 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