Draymond Green, the outspoken star of the Golden State Warriors, found an unexpected source of motivation during the 2021-2022 NBA season: the critics of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” In a conversation with Gavin Newsom, Marshawn Lynch, and Doug Hendrickson on the “Politickin’” podcast, Green revealed how the negative feedback he received from the media fueled his determination to excel on the court.
Green recounted the backlash he faced when he began podcasting regularly. “Everyone was like, ‘You can’t be podcasting. How dare you podcast when you’re playing the game, you should be in the gym,’” Green recalled. His response was pragmatic: “Well, I’ve been in the gym, so what should I do with these other 21 hours in the day that I’m not in the gym? Is it OK if I podcast a little bit then?”
Despite his logical approach, the criticism persisted. “Sports media television was like, ‘Oh, he’s podcasting, he’s focusing on this.’ And then the podcast became a focal point of conversation,” Green explained. Rather than let the negativity deter him, Green used it as motivation. “I got to play great because they’re going to use this thing [against me],” he thought. Ultimately, his resolve paid off as the Warriors clinched the championship that year, overcoming the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. This victory marked the fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy for Green, along with teammates Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Andre Iguodala.
The triumph was especially sweet for the Warriors, who had experienced two years of underperformance before their resurgence. Green’s success both on and off the court has had a lasting impact, as his podcast has grown into one of the most popular and entertaining shows hosted by an NBA player. His venture into podcasting has also inspired numerous other players around the league to explore the medium, showing that athletes can excel in multiple arenas simultaneously.
While Golden State has struggled to maintain their championship form in the seasons following their 2022 victory, Draymond Green’s story is a testament to how criticism can be turned into a powerful motivator, driving excellence and success.
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