Draymond Green Tries Schooling Anthony Edwards On 'Effort' After All-Star Game Performance

Draymond Green needs to give up the podcast mic for the rest of the season instead of trying to guide the young fellas.

Hopping on his podcast, in association with The Volume, Golden State Warriors forward and goon Draymond Green gave his critical thoughts on rising Minnesota Timberwolves star and former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards. 

LISTEN: OutKick's Alejandro Avila talks NBA All-Star Weekend, 2nd half of the basketball season

What was Edwards' crime? (Certainly not punching Jusuf Nurkic … )

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 24: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter at Target Center on February 24, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nets 101-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 17: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors is seen watching the Butler Bulldogs and Creighton Bluejays game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Green seemed upset over Edwards' laissez-faire view on the NBA All-Star Weekend. 

Coming off the three-day event which included the Celebrity Game, Dunk Contest, 3-Point Shooting Contest, and All-Star Game, Green was irked that Edwards' low-effort attitude toward being in the Games, opting for left-handed 3-Point shooting all weekend, set a bad precedent.

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Despite his best effort at drumming up enthusiasm for a dead product (All-Star Weekend), Green sounded nothing but bitter toward the rising star in the West. 

READ: Confused Draymond Green Thinks He Got 'Snubbed' From Team USA Roster

Also, worth keeping in mind is that Green still competes against Edwards; podcast or not, Green is Edwards' opponent. Green's Warriors are 10th in the West (29-26) and Edwards' Timberwolves (40-17) are first.

So was it helpful criticism meant to add longevity to the NBA by Green, or a potshot made possible with a laptop, platform and microphone?

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Green commented, "For Anthony Edwards, who was in his first All-Star game that he was actually voted into... saying, 'We don't wanna be here, I don't wanna play.' A big deal on guys' resumes is All-Star Game MVP. I don't understand why a young Anthony Edwards wouldn't want his name sketched in stone next to likes of those guys.

"So to play defense backwards, to shoot left-handed threes, I thought that was a little outlandish. I thought it was a little crazy and like I said a little disheartening, just because of who he is, who we all think he is going to be to this league. A part of being the face of the NBA is also being a steward of the game."

This season, Edwards is averaging 26.3 points per game, adding 5.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

NBA stars of the late aughts and 2010s want the young guys to give more effort on All-Star Weekend. 

One could argue they set a bad precedent by opting out of All-Star festivities, international / Olympic contests, or even regular season games — an ego-driven attitude toward NBA talent that peaked during the 2010s (Green's era). NBA audiences and players shake their fists at the lack of talent in the dunk contest or effort in the ASG but the tacit reality remains that these big-time stars don't want to look bad on a marquee stage.

The careless play by guys like LeBron James or Warriors' Stephen Curry at All-Star Weekends Past snowballed into Edwards' attitude toward the games … which is to not take it seriously. 

As for Draymond, the Warriors veteran isn't concerned with leading by example; just with seeing an improved NBA product, which is fair.

Anyone with an inkling of Green's history has to scoff at the idea of this guy giving any advice to a budding NBA talent. Green received two suspensions this season for taking cheap shots at fellow players. His suspension in November 2023 cost Green five games. His indefinite suspension in January cost Green 12 additional games.

Green's like the lofty cousin at a family gathering who's got the keys to success in life but seemingly never applied them (from my old-man porch).

Still, four championships are four championships.

(Does Draymond Green hold a fair criticism of Edwards? Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com)

Follow along on X:@AlejandroAveela