Kenyon Martin clears up Draymond Green’s ‘fake tough guy’ claim

Retired NBA forward Kenyon Martin Clarifies His ‘Fake Tough Guy’ Stand on Golden State Warriors‘ Draymond Green. Charles Oakley says the players would hit Green In the ’90s, Draymond agreed with that sentiment on his podcast.

Martin says Green’s tactic of getting under the skin of opposing players is by design, which is why he doesn’t believe it’s fake, Kenyon said, per Gil’s Arena Podcast.

“I’ve watched Draymond’s career from the moment he came up until now. And I think a lot of the things and people he’s worked with have been calculated,” Martin said. “It’s not immediate stuff. It’s not reactionary stuff and he didn’t hit somebody or do something to somebody and somebody’s immediate reaction is the next step.”

While Martin respects the four-time champion’s career, he doesn’t place Green in the same league as former NBA greats known for their tough guys.

“I respect Draymond’s career, what he’s done, what he’s done for the Warriors, a four-time champion, and all those things,” Martin adds. “Not to take anything away from his career, but I just don’t put him in a category with Rick Mehorn, Charles Oakley, those guys.

Draymond Green agrees with Charles Oakley’s view

Warriors veteran Draymond Green knows things would have been different for him had he played in the NBA during the 90s. Green agreed with Oakley’s sentiment that he would struggle much more often than in today’s league, saying,

“I have the utmost respect for Uncle Oak. There would be no defamation here. As far as talking trash and punching in the mouth, I can agree with that,” Green said. “I’d probably get punched in the mouth. Because, quite frankly, Uncle Oak, I’m from Saginaw, Michigan. I’ve been punched in the mouth before. Nose and all.”

For Green, a punch in the face won’t calm him down.

“Uncle Oak, I’ve been punched in the mouth before. I’ve been punched in the nose before. So when I talk the way I talk, a punch in the mouth won’t stop me from talking,” Green said. “But the story also doesn’t end like, ‘Oh, Draymond got punched in the mouth, boom story.’ The story doesn’t end like that. You’re going to have to punch me in the mouth every time you see me.

“Because if you punch me in the mouth, I’m going to fight you every time I see you. Either they fight me or I win,” Green concluded.

The Warriors will face the Heat on Wednesday.