Draymond Green has never been one to shy away from controversy, and this week was no different. After calling out Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson for what he described as “dirty play” and “rage-baiting tactics,” Green found himself on the receiving end of some sharp criticism-this time from former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas.
Arenas didn’t hold back. On his podcast, he labeled Green the “King of being Dirty,” pointing out the irony in Green accusing others of unsportsmanlike behavior.
“I can see where he said he’s not dirty and the Europeans are on the little things,” Arenas said. “Europeans are not innocent type of players.
… They do little things. Look it makes sense, Draymond when he puts belt to ass, it’s always against the Euros.”
Arenas’ point? European players may be known for subtle gamesmanship-grabbing jerseys, sneaky elbows, the occasional flop-but Green’s brand of physicality is anything but subtle. It’s loud, it’s aggressive, and yes, it’s often over the line.
“Most of us would rather have whatever Larsson does than what Draymond does because his dirty actually hurts,” Arenas added. “Draymond is the Anti European slayer.
There is a highlight reel of Draymond being dirty. You can only be a dirty player to get a highlight of it.
If there was a King of being dirty, Draymond would inherit that Kingdom."
That’s a strong statement, but it’s not without precedent. Green’s reputation as one of the league’s most physical-and polarizing-players has followed him for years.
His most recent incidents include an on-court chokehold on Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, which led to a five-game suspension without pay, and a shot to the face of Jusuf Nurkic, which resulted in an indefinite suspension. These aren’t just hard fouls-they’re the kind of moments that get replayed on highlight reels and debated on talk shows.
And while Green has defended his playing style as passionate and intense, critics like Arenas argue there’s a fine line between intensity and recklessness-and Green has crossed it more than once.
But Green wasn’t done stirring the pot. On his podcast, he took aim at former teammate Jordan Poole in the aftermath of a December 27 scuffle between Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams during a Pelicans-Suns game.
“If I’m in a fight and my teammate is standing behind and doing this (exaggerated facial expression), come on man,” Green said, poking fun at Poole’s reaction. “We can’t be doing that.”
Green recalled advice from veteran David West during his Warriors days: “David West used to always tell us if something goes wrong on the court, you go over there because you don’t know what’s going to happen. I ain’t saying you got to fight. What if those five guys jump on your one teammate?”
That sentiment speaks to Green’s old-school mentality-ride or die with your squad, no matter what. It’s part of what’s made him such a valuable teammate and a four-time NBA champion. But it’s also part of what’s made him a lightning rod for criticism.
The Alvarado-Williams altercation itself was textbook NBA tension. Alvarado tried to fight through a screen set by Williams, made contact, and was whistled for a defensive foul. Things escalated quickly, and both players were hit with fighting technicals and ejected.
Green’s commentary on that moment, and on Poole’s response, was vintage Draymond-blunt, unfiltered, and layered with personal history. His relationship with Poole, of course, has been under the microscope ever since their infamous preseason altercation in 2022.
At the heart of all this is a player who thrives in chaos. Draymond Green is, and always has been, a disruptor-on both ends of the floor and in the headlines.
Whether you see him as a defensive genius or a habitual line-stepper, there’s no denying his impact on the game and the conversations around it. And as long as he’s in the league-or behind a microphone-those conversations aren’t going anywhere.