Thanks for sending in this week's hot take, Alyssa. Draymond Green has been the starting power forward for the Golden State Warriors for the last 14 years. During this time with the Warriors he was a major contributor to four championships and the best win record in NBA history, the 2015-16 season, where the Warriors went 73-9. He is a Defensive Player of the Year and recorded the only ever triple double without points. He has revolutionized the way power forwards and centers play, often being the most ball dominant player on his team which allows his point guard, Steph Curry, to play off the ball. The archetype of a passing big, a model of player seen often in the modern NBA, is heavily influenced by Green’s playstyle and the role he plays in the Warriors offense. He is also heavily criticized for being one of the most unstable and violent players in the NBA, being sixth all time in technical fouls and second all time in flagrant fouls. I could spend all day listing distasteful things Draymond has done on the court, so I will stick to the highlights. He punched Jordan Poole in the face during a practice, leading Golden State to trade Poole and likely dashing their chances for a back-to-back championship. He stepped on Domantas Sabonis’ chest during a game, a potentially career-ending injury. He kicked Australian player Stephen Addams in his down under after getting blocked by him. He went on his podcast and called Karl Anthony-Towns “soft” for missing a game, then doubled down on his statements after learning Towns missed the game for his family friend’s funeral. I think Jusuf Nurkic got it right when asked about Draymond, he replied “That brotha needs help,” a quote that quickly went viral. It goes without saying that basketball is a very competitive sport and Draymond is not the only player to have gotten carried away during a game. Historically, he’s not even the worst player, but he’s definitely criticized the most. Dennis Rodman and the bad boy Detroit Pistons did much of the same in the ’80s and ’90s, but they receive praise for their efforts. It’s true, the game has changed since then, but that doesn’t excuse the demonization of Draymond as opposed to other players in the NBA. He himself has been outspoken about people's perception of him. Green in 2023 apologized for his behavior and agreed that changes are necessary. In 2025 he again commented saying that when people criticize his overly-physical playstyle, they are forcing him into the stereotype of “an angry black man.” While he has certainly gone too far in some instances, his contributions to NBA culture have been enormous, and he has made efforts to be better. I agree with Alyssa that Green might deserve some criticism, but the hate goes too far.