Stephen Curry sounds off on Draymond’s ejection & Rockets taunt Warriors | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST

You know, for old media, I know some old tricks that work and one of the

things

that works is to talk about the most interesting thing from the beginning. Don't spend five minutes talking about the development of Paulo B. Caro. Tell people no. I even know how to talk here listening to the

draymond

OB podcast at the 8 minute mark

first

we need to talk Haywood Heist that's how Newwood came he's like well you know programming there let's think about Steph Curry Steph Curry is crying on the court JJ thinks in that, you know this inverted pick and roll what I'm telling the referee, you are, I mean, what are we talking about, it's crazy, okay, here's my reaction, I mean, look, obviously, what Draymond did is terrible, selfish and indefensible. selfish is a big word. selfish and he may not see that I'm competitive, no he's selfish okay but let me say this

first

before we get to Draymond.

Steph Curry, his reaction, we all know how great Steph is, but in terms of competitiveness, you have something like that. two guys, maybe I'm missing someone, but people think of Jordan and Kobe, of magic and bir, like these guys, that part of their legend is how much they wanted to win. Right step, Ste has never been in that group, it's not that he's not competitive, everyone obviously knows that. He's competitive, but he hasn't been in that group. Seeing this really turned me into a guy who has covered his entire career and been in a lot of his biggest games, like this guy wants it because they're not fighting to get it, it's not a Finals game, yeah, they're fighting to get into the play, okay, tenth place and he loves it so much, so for me, I don't know if he was crying or not, I mean, I've known guys that when they get angry they cry, so whatever , Wild is about to cry a lot right now, yeah, so to me this was like, you know, it was a revelation to me like, oh, this guy is actually at that highest competitive level when it comes to Draymond. again, not much to say about his nonsense, okay, he got mad because you and Kevin Durant implied he needed mental help, right? and he said they questioned his character.

He didn't know they were questioning his character, they were just saying he needed help, but he was offended by that and when you people who need mental help can't control your emotions enough to function in normal society, and this is right now , Draymond hasn't. He's been able to control himself enough to function in a normal basketball game, so if you don't feel like you need mental help, I'm not saying you do, just go out there and prove it well, but I have to say this because Draymond is obviously the biggest culprit, but the Warriors and I'm not the first to say this, the Warriors are somewhat to blame here, okay, they've allowed it for years and maybe you've even said this and they've enabled it for years.

To get away with this nonsense more recently, I mean, obviously there was stuff this year, but the pun when you hit Jordan Pool and he didn't even get suspended, no, and then they pay Draymond and they get rid of Draymond, They gave him 100 million. After that, I'm just saying the Warriors have a lot to do with this because they've allowed it year after year Time After Time Wild, do you want to go? Oh well, here's the thing and I've heard a lot of takes. of the knee-jerk reaction is that Draymond isn't worth it, when does Raymond go from helping the team to hurting it?

The answer is not in the short term, he is amazing and he works for the Warriors and when he plays for the Warriors, they win. games and the statistics bear it out when he plays a full game. The Warriors have 26 and 17, when he gets ejected they have one and three and when he doesn't play, whether suspended or for any reason, the Warriors have 11 and 14, so any narrative unless you're rude unless you're yours, but any narrative that says oh man he's not worth it, he 100% is and in this weird conflict where it's like how flammable and flammable INF mean the same thing, he's simultaneously the most disinterested teen when he's on the court talks. of his playing style.

The style of play is not one, he doesn't need glory, he will grab it, he will let the open shot go, he will get into the trenches. He will do everything that contributes to winning, except when he does the exact opposite, but no, it doesn't make logical sense to me for people to say, "You know what he needs, the Warriors need to move on because they need to." him and he's not available, let me that was not my opinion, but let me explain how that could make sense. Let's do it again because I'm doing this as I go.

You are Steph, you are a healthy clay. I'm Draymond. Okay, you know what I mean, this is whatever. um, I understand, but let's get on with it. um. The show is obviously better with the three of us, MH, but if once every two weeks he showed up drunk and halfway there. during the show or right before the show you guys had to be like Nick you can't be on the air today and that show Tanked so you couldn't be like that look how valuable Nick is the shows are great when he's on and they're horrible When he's not there, you might say yeah, we'd love good old Nick, but drunk Nick has become such a problem that we need to see what it would be like if we didn't depend on you at all, if we just knew you weren't going to be here, Someone else was going to be here and the crew was going to be different, so what if the quality of the show went down?

What if it was great? At some point, we would win prizes. put up with it but it's a pretty good show now yeah that's what the Warriors are right now we're not even a rocket show okay so that's in response to that but my initial reaction to this is someone. he tweeted it and they were right and I wish I could give them credit uh they were like the Warriors talked about Draymond the same way people talk about his cousin his seventh or eighth time he went to jail like yeah he probably deserves it we're sad We are supporting it, but it is what we expect, they are not defending it.

Kerr is not defending him. Steph isn't defending him, they are, and I think Steph's thing was less competitive. I don't think Steph is super competitive, but I think it was less so. about this is it oh now we could lose this game and more about Jesus man this is just my basketball life now this is just yeah I don't agree with this is that this is who I am it was me Clay and Draymond Clay no fault of his Mine is not the same, Draymond with age has become more erratic in MH and this is what the rest of my career will look like: it will be on an average mediocre team with a guy I can't trust to make it to the championship.

In the first TV timeout he got angry over a foul against a teammate for which he received a completely justified technical, they could have given him a second and a third they let him pass and then Draymond wanted him ejected, I don't care what I've done. He says he wants He didn't even react to being thrown out He was already walking towards the lock He wasn't surprised by many of his objections It's like you knew that and the reason selfish was such a good word is what we just heard from Steve Kerr last time the Warriors lost when they said, hey, why didn't you play Steph more minutes?

He said, listen, oh yeah, the weight of the franchise has regressed for 15 years. Draymond, you know, I know he knows Orlando is back to back and it's hard because he opened his podcast talking about how he's there back to back every year, all these

things

where you're back to back in a must-win game. and in four minutes you're out of there. and now Steph has to play 35 minutes and rescue you again just to stay, just to keep you afloat like he is. I see Brew as someone who Draymond has always been erratic and has always been volatile, but the stock madness is increasing.

The most violent things we have seen from him have happened in the last 18 months. He wanted to kick the guy, yes, but they weren't things that could really hurt people. You know what I mean? The punch and the nerk. He could have really hurt people. I think Sabonis' stomp could and the Goar couldn't hurt you. I mean you mentioned Sabonis and the things he's done that could have really hurt the guys. I hope this doesn't happen. I'm not predicting what would happen, but this seems to be a situation where let's say something happened, let's say he stepped on someone else.

The player's chest is like that and it hurts a lot and then the NBA and everyone associated says why didn't we all do it. Everyone on the talk shows would be killing the NBA saying why didn't you do something you saw coming and everything you did. It was little pats on the wrist or nothing at all at the shift in Jordan P's case, so okay, let's get to the big picture, the Warriors got the win, uh, without Kaminga, who didn't play, so I think That's why Steph had to take on extra responsibility or Draymond Steph was only 17, but it was enough to say good night to the big magical victory and a very emotional step here too.

Not only was he upset and then he did this thing of sleeping for a long time, like some kind of mockery. Orlando likes, hey, we just started winning and then he kicks some chairs too, uh, West playing in the standings or something like that, the red-hot Rockets right on their tails, um, so we'll go with the Future Nick, what should the Warriors do if they even miss the play-offs? although they could also miss the plane, well I hear, I think this is less about what the Warriors should do and more about what Steph Curry should do and whether or not they will miss the play to make the play.

They will miss the playoffs no matter what. is outperforming the first, which is largely the same at Brew, if I told you I figured out my retirement plans, I'm moving back to my hometown of Kansas City and I'm going to live on the ocean. What would you tell me? There is no ocean there. I have to choose you. You can go live somewhere on the ocean or you can live in Can City. Ideally, that's what I'd love to do. Living in my hometown and living in it. ocean, unfortunately that is not the case, it is a reality that will never exist.

Steph Curry will have to make a similar decision when this season ends: Do I want to be a lifelong warrior or do I want to get back to playing in games that really matter? If you. You can't, no you can't do both and you certainly would. He would do it with the hand of God. He wouldn't judge any of the decisions. He has more than earned the right to do whatever he wants, whatever makes him happiest and I believe. the Warriors would adapt to him. I think if I said I don't want to be guys, I don't want to be here anymore, and I actually want to go to this place or this place, they would make it happen for him, uh, him.

He made everyone billionaires, he made 100 millionaires, billionaires for that team, he did a lot, but it's a sad reality that for Steph now it's a choice he can't have, he can't compete at the highest level and play in the biggest games. . and continue to be a warrior no matter how this season ends because this is not going to improve dramatically and Steph is not going to suddenly become the Steph of 2016 again and for all those reasons, that's what this season tells me it has to take a decision this offseason or whenever and maybe the choice will be easy.

I just want to be a warrior, but then Steph Curry and the relevant basketball games ended and that, as a basketball fan, would make me a little sad. I disagree. I mean you're right about that I was going to say uh and I've said in the past whatever he wants to do, yeah, if he's okay playing in Golden State games it doesn't mean much and seeing the way he reacted last night again. This sparks the man's thinking, he still wants to win, yes he may not be as good as he was five years ago, he is still in the top 10, yes he is still a very good player and can win championships, so if he wants to stay with the Warriors, I agree.

I don't see, I've said this many times, the Dynasty is over, okay, the Race is over and a lot of great players like this, some even worse, I mean, they just don't even play at a high level anymore, so this wouldn't be unusual for he plays his part in Golden State and all that, but some things they can do. Chris Paul's contract is not guaranteed. Try to change it if you can and get something for it, but if you can't, just leave it. he goes to clay, I know it's G to be harsh, but I think you broke away from clay and maybe if you can bring him back with a little deal, sure, but I wouldn't pay him, uh, I'd try and you mentioned Draymond .

Yes, Draymond is still a very good player and is critical to his success, whatever level of success they have now, but I would be willing to trade him now and I don't know which teams because I don't think he's that good. well anywhere else unless LeBron throws him a life raft he won't have a huge market yeah the Warriors don't play and they don't play the same style they did in the past so Draymond all the things that could do son It's not like he handles the ball. Steph drives a lot more than he used to, so I think they could start over, like you ask them, how about you call Phoenix if Phoenix comes out on thefirst round or not make the playoffs? together, do you think they should definitely keep Kevin Durant?

Oh, I don't think the Warriors can keep Kevin Durant. He would do it, he would do it with the Suns, we already have Booker, we have Bill. Bill is too hurt, but maybe they would say Draymond. and and Wiggins or something I'm just saying these are the kind of things you try with Steph and Durant no I'm just trying to make that happen I understand I'm fishing I understand I'm fish don't get rid of Draymond the draym you know how good the Warriors are without Draymond, that's it, that's what I have, now they're different. Draymond used to handle the ball and be the playmaker.

It's not quite that. That makes those guys, maybe they don't want to, I understand, but I'm looking for all these things. There are things that I'm not criticizing the Warriors front office, they won four titles but missed out on some very high draft picks, you know what I mean, they would obviously love the WIS men to pick again. I would say the Moody pick hasn't worked, kuming kaminga when you draft kaminga and he's the youngest player in the draft or the second youngest, uh Moody, you know it's going to be a long one, it's working, it's working, but it's just the the timeline is maybe a bias, there's a lot of things where and that's why and the reason I'm so pessimistic about Draymond's turnaround is not just the podcast where he treated this as something less important than talking about Haywood Heith, but more importantly.

We have to talk about tar een, which I know we will, but Draymond in the tunnel after the game was shocking to me like nothing had happened to him and Steph once again frees him. Steph hugs him and walks by. I wish we had an angle of Steph's face right when he sees Draymond doing this because to me that is a huge lack of responsibility and people can maybe say I'm being unfair. I'm not really trying to be unfair and it's very strange because The point you're making about Draymond on the court and his effectiveness even as a player is valid and Draymond off the court outside of basketball, so many people that I love and respect love that man, oh yeah, talks about what a great guy he is. like when he has no relation to basketball, everyone loves him, when it's just basketball, everyone loves him and he's super valuable.

It's weird, like when he's on the court but he's not doing basketball stuff, he's just a maniac, you know what I mean, and like that and like that. It's a strange place, but I think being in the tunnel said, "Oh, everything's okay." For me it was unpleasant and it was a lack of responsibility. Okay, let's quickly talk about the Rockets. I love the Rockets, but your reaction. Well, listen, I don't know if Tar ean is the right messenger for this. I kinda like him tell us why I mean he's not even playing he's not playing he's out for the rest of the season yeah but Rockets Warriors was a real rivalry for years. like the Warriors always win, yeah, but Brew, I had an epiphany about two hours ago because yesterday was so weird on this show because we all know what we're going to talk about.

Brew pretends he's surprised by the questions or whatever, but we have production meetings, we know what's going on and Brew, you were as surprised as I was yesterday when, three minutes into the show, Wilds took the car and tried to throw him off a cliff doing the H, maybe the problem is with LeBron, maybe maybe the Lakers. They're better without LeBron, so why do I do it? So why do I mention that? breu because I realized what was happening that it was a classic projection because who is wild who is wild who is Wild's favorite player right I'm open who is his favorite player better without Shing well I don't know, let's show you the numbers because with Shenon Wilds it's so we're all a winning team, boy, they're not good without Shenon, they've won eight in a row, they don't suffer a 12, that's a Celtics point differential. what you have to say they were warming up to Shin they're not wild they weren't I looked at they won they won two they thought they won three the last one they won two wild what do you mean he inspired inspired the Rockets but there I think it's a fair question to ask if he's well, if you have two, it looks like we have a thunderstorm situation, maybe we have, well, Jaylen Green is my guy now.

Just letting you know, he's fine, I like Jaylen Green, no, he's my guy. Now you can keep sh. I'm just asking you a question. If Shinon gets a full medical discharge, everyone can go, they can play, not play. Here is my question: if the doctor says he is full, he is fine, he can play and the first game he is allowed to return is 910. playing oh yeah, would you like it played? It's a little Tom Brady, so cing, thanks for watching. Subscribe here to learn more about the show and see clips from other shows on FS1.