Draymond Green blames tanking crisis for ruining NBA career

Draymond Green calls for The NBA will address what he described as a growing crisisarguing that the practice harms player development and damages careers across the league.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, v Golden State Warriors veteran striker criticized organizations who prioritize draft positioning over development, saying young players caught up in rebuilding strategies are often left without proper instruction.

“More often than not, you get Isaiah Roby, you know, you get Jahlil Okafor, you get all these guys that are part of these tank jobs and they just go away because they’re not taught the proper techniques,” Green said.

“Then you get off of them, they go to a different situation. They’re like, ‘Man, you’ve been in the league for four years. You don’t know the X’s, I’s and Z’s.’ Well no. I was part of the tank.”

Green specifically pointed to former lottery pick Jahlil Okafor, who entered the league during The “Trust The Process” Era of the Philadelphia 76ers. That stretch, built around accumulating high draft picks through losing seasons, also included players like Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams and Markelle Fultz.

Green argued that prolonged losing environments can create bad habits and stunt growth, especially for young players who are expected to carry heavy roles without a veteran infrastructure.

“So at some point, the NBA has to figure out a way to start taking these draft picks,” Green said. “If you screw up, your draft pick automatically goes down. If you’re a bum, you’re a bum. Then you should get a pick. But if you’re not as bad as you’ve been smoking and you’re just trying to sneak a pick, I’m going to bomb for a year so it’s garbage. You’re teaching these kids how to lose.”

Draymond Green points to Thunder rebuild, Jazz decision in heated debate

Green acknowledged that tanking has produced successful outcomes in certain cases. The Oklahoma City Thunder completed an extended rebuild that ultimately led to a championship last summer after a seven-game victory over the Indiana Pacers. During that stretch, star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed extended time with injuries as the Thunder stockpiled draft funds. Green also cited Isaiah Roby, who spent time on those rebuilding rosters.

While acknowledging that Oklahoma City’s model “worked,” Green argued that the league’s broader ramifications remain problematic.

Recent games involving the Utah Jazz have renewed scrutiny of the integrity of the competition. After acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. in a blockbuster trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, along with Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic, Utah started all three in back-to-back games in Orlando and Miami. Each player logged 25 minutes through three quarters in both contests, but did not play in the fourth quarter of either game.

In Orlando, the Jazz surrendered a 33-23 fourth quarter loss to the Orlando Magic and lost 120-117 after blowing a 17-point lead. in Miami, Utah held on for the 115-111 win despite similar substitution patterns.

The NBA previously adjusted its draft lottery system to discourage pursuit, thus evening the odds among the league’s worst teams. Green suggested that additional measures may be necessary, including automatic draft penalties for teams deemed to be losing on purpose.

The The Warriors (29-25) are in eighth place in the Western Conference and host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at 7:30 PM PT on ESPN as Green’s comments add to the league-wide debate about the balance between rebuilding strategies and maintaining competitive standards.