Home

NBA

Doubling Down on Draymond Green’s ‘No IQ’ Claim, 3x NBA All-Star Senses Forced Modesty: “They Sitting There Like Where Do I Go?”

Published 08/01/2023, 9:50 AM EDT

Follow Us

USA Today via Reuters

During a recent interaction with Patrick Beverley, Draymond Green‘s extreme confession blew the basketball world. While speaking of the cerebrally-gifted players, he digressed into a prevalent issue among the modern players. The Golden State Warriors claimed over 60% of the NBA lacks a simple basketball IQ. The take was polarizing for obvious reasons since it accounts for more than half of the players in the league today. While everyone wonders if Green’s scathing attack applies to them, a former NBA star felt he is being humble with numbers.

The three-time NBA All-Star spoke about the contrast in IQs being majorly due to the youth in today’s league. Moreover, he gave an updated version of the number that makes the conversation concerning.

Draymond Green was being polite according to this NBA legend

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Gilbert Arena welcomed a couple of veterans on his show to discuss basketball. With Green’s controversial take looming in the air, they decided to give their two cents. On hearing Green’s 60% mark, Agent Zero scoffed. “Only 60%?” he said with an obvious tone of surprise in his voice. According to Arenas, the basketball savvy in today’s players is nowhere in the realm of the players from the 90s.

He mentioned the reason for the discrepancy to be the absence of experience in the new-coming players. Arenas stated how fresh talents only go through a single year of college before declaring for the NBA. This practice and their non-familiarity with high-level basketball leaves them clueless on the floor.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Watch This Story: “That’s Pretty Smart Business If You’re a Team…”: Kevin Durant Offered Blunt Take on One of NBA’s Most Polarizing Issues

“The league is younger right? They coming straight from AAU, pending one year in college. It’s not going to have the IQ of the 80s and the 90s. You know, players that really understand the game,” he said.

Following his claim, Gilbert Arenas updated Green’s 60% to a new figure. The revelation might sound dangerous. To support his outlandish conclusion, Arenas cited his experience of players failing to understand plays in the modern era.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“I’m thinking 80-85%. I mean half these players you can see. When they get out of the timeout, coach drew the play up they sitting like ‘Where do I go?'”. 

Today, there are still stars who boast an incredible basketball IQ. However, on careful observation, most names that jump out are veterans who have spent over a decade in the league. There are still young talents who display wit on the court. Luka Doncic, Tyrese Haliburton, and such stars can visibly decode plays and have blossomed as primary playmakers.

Yet there is some truth on how intelligent players are growing scarce. Today, a player’s singular college year is basically because it is mandatory to be eligible for the NBA. Their highlight tapes are considered enough evidence to prove their talents. While it is true, the scale of talent keeps improving, the IQ might be on a decline.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

READ MORE-Kevin Durant’s Honest Views on the Draymond Green Spat That Ended the Warriors Dynasty: “It Was Just Swept Under the Rug”

Do you think Draymond Green and Gilbert Arenas are speaking the truth? Let us know in the comments below.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar

2,420Articles

One take at a time

Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having composed close to 2000 articles, he aspires to manage his own team one day and is pursuing a top-tier college-level management program specializing in sports. Anuj's love for basketball blossomed after he started following the NBA a few years ago, and he decided to merge his writing skills with his understanding of this thrilling game.
Show More>