Draymond Green retaliates to Shaq’s “league is softer” comment
Draymond Green responds to Shaq’s notion towards the modern-day NBA league. Green is one of the best defensive beasts the NBA has seen in its history.
The 32-year-old power forward was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. Following an interview with New York Times’ David Marchese, Green spoke in response to one of the most dominant players the NBA has seen, Shaq. He feels that the NBA superstars have turned soft and sensitive.
In 2017, Shaq sent shockwaves after delivering this statement. He said, “Just put it this way: The league is soft, and these guys are sensitive, period.” His reaction was an outburst to comments made about him that he bullied people in his time. For which, Shaq did not deny, he said, “He said I was strong and I bullied people. Of course, that’s exactly what I did. I’m not going to go shoot jumpers and do all of that.”
Shaq added, “I was sensitive [as a player] too but I never went back at [older players]. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain never said s— to [support] me. Did I cry about It? No.”
Draymond said in response, “As far as Shaq saying the league is softer, that’s fine, but we didn’t make it softer. The rules made it softer. I would have loved to hand-check somebody if I could. I would love to clothesline somebody, and we just get up and walk to the free-throw line and continue playing if I could.”
“We didn’t make those rule changes, nor do we have any say-so. So, if Shaq feels that the game is softer, guess what? It is, but I don’t agree that players are softer, and that’s not what he said. He said the game is softer. I agree.”
Shaq meant by his comments that if players these days are criticized, they start whimpering and crying. Meanwhile, Draymond Green started the 2022-23 season which a viral video of him punching teammate Jordan Poole in the face. Was that an example of not being soft?
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