Ending a good regular season, many believed the Golden State Warriors will lead a deep playoff run. The success was visible in the first round as they burst all hopes for the Houston Rockets. But then, it was a level up, literally. Since Stephen Curry left for the sidelines in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, everyone relied on the offensive threat — Jimmy Butler – and the defensive maestro – Draymond Green. And for what’s it worth, Butler showed up and showed out, especially in Game 3, dropping 33 points in the 102-97 loss. But Green? Well, let’s just say a fan’s complaint, “Draymond doesn’t wanna out there without Steph,” after the forward’s 10 points in Game 5, reflected the common notion. And this was not the only wrath the 35-year-old had to face. A ghost from the past came to point fingers again.

Sitting at the ESPN desk, the former NBA Champ, Kendrick Perkins, did not hold back. “Draymond Green, what you had, homie? We talk about since Steph went out in Game 2, one could argue that he was trying to get ejected; Game 3, he gave them absolutely nothing. Game 4, absolutely nothing. Game 5, absolutely nothing. And I don’t expect Draymond to go out there and get 15 to 20 points. That’s not what he does.” In 12 games of the 2025 playoffs series, Green has averaged 9.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. In fact, his performance against the Wolves was better with 10.6 ppg in 5 games, with him adding 18 points in the opener. But as Perkins also noted, the Warriors are not dependent on Green for the offense, not purely at least. 

His one role is defending. And going against one of the top defensive teams in the league, his skills could’ve been all the help that Steve Kerr would have wanted as they tried to push for a Game 6 where Curry could return. But just as Stephen A. Smith’s colleague pointed after the Game 3 loss, “he disappeared defensively.” Now, as the Warriors end their playoffs run, it seems like Draymond has a response to why the naysayers keep bringing up his name.

Speaking to Baron Davis on The Draymond Green Show, the 35-year-old forward clarified: “One thing’s for certain is I know the name Draymond affects TV ratings. That I’m certain of. Another thing’s for certain, I’ve been doing that at an elite level for a very long time, and guys like that… I don’t get bothered by them shooting. It don’t really move me.

“I briefly just saw two seconds of what Perk was saying because I started watching it. Then y’all said I already said something about it. And so, in saying that, I’m not actually sure what they said because I didn’t hear it. But if they said what I think they said, they were right. How they said it—you know, these guys sometimes go about a way of saying things where they make it personal. And I don’t know that they did that, I’d hope that they didn’t do that because I could go in on that.”

If you’re wondering why Draymond Green felt personally attacked by Kendrick Perkins’ latest comments, you don’t have to dig too deep—just rewind to their heated back-and-forth in 2022. That’s when Draymond fired shots on his podcast: “And because of all these dumb talking heads that never done it, they don’t understand it. Even the one that has done it don’t act like he’s done it because he’s an idiot and a m-—- and wasn’t really that good of a player. I’m talking about Kendrick Perkins, by the way.”

Naturally, Perkins got wind of the jab—and went off. In a fiery two-minute tirade, he clapped back at Draymond with full force, kicking it off with a now-iconic line: “Hey, Draymond, you good?”. Meanwhile, Baron Davis shared what Udonis Haslem said about Green.

“Udonis said you got your a– kicked,” BD informed the 2017 DPOY. Can you really say Haslem was wrong here? Even Draymond Green accepts that it’s true. However, what felt off was how the conversation between Big Perk and Udonis Haslem was the entry of Dennis Rodman. Well, he wasn’t in the studio, of course, but his name echoes through ESPN’s studio like it was meant to be. But even Draymond didn’t skimp on replying to the comparisons drawn between him and Rodman, with Julius Randle into the mix.

Draymond Green clears his opinions of Perkins’ Dennis Rodman comparison

Steve Kerr once told the media that Draymond is the best defender he’s ever seen. “Steve Kerr played with Dennis Rodman. Julius Randle shot over 50% when Draymond Green was guarding him,” Kendrick Perkins gave his argument. “Julius, in all due respect to Julius Randle because he’s balling, he wouldn’t have put up them type of numbers or had that impact on no damn Dennis Rodman.”

So, Baron Davis said, “He compared you to Dennis Rodman and said Julius Randle wouldn’t have scored 40. That’s the only thing I didn’t like. Julius Randle wouldn’t have scored 40 on Dennis Rodman?” Dray said, “If Julius Randle was feeling like he was feeling in that series, ain’t nobody gonna stop him. You know what I mean? He ain’t thinking about anybody stopping him. For sure.

“I’m also certain I can go find a playoff series where Dennis Rodman got dropped off. When you win at the levels me and Dennis Rodman have won at, and you play the amount of meaningful series we’ve played in, there’s somebody coming along. You’re gonna lose. So yeah, I don’t take that personally at all. I definitely lost that battle,” Draymond Green concluded.

Julius Randle has averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 10 games in the 2025 playoffs. He was an unstoppable force who posed an equivalent, if not equal, threat on the floor like Anthony Edwards.

Draymond may be bruised, but he is far from broken. Even when the ghost of Dennis Rodman looms over every critique, he doesn’t flinch. Sure, Julius had his moment, but every legend—Rodman included—has faced a storm. Draymond’s four rings still shine, louder than the noise. And when he roars back, the league will feel it.