Draymond Green’s trip to Cancun will have to wait after his Inside the NBA return was confirmed.
TNT Sports has confirmed the veteran Golden State Warriors forward will cover the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals in New York as the Knicks host the Indiana Pacers.
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He was a regular during the 2024 postseason but his performances did not earn rave reviews from fans or media colleagues.
Green has also come under fire for attacking the fact that Candace Parker’s Rising Stars roster took the floor during the revamped All-Star Weekend, claiming they didn’t ‘earn’ the privilege.
San Antonio Spurs reporter Michelle Beadle called him a ‘hypocrite’ and Fox Sports host Nick Wright labeled him ‘unprofessional.’
Green also claimed that Karl-Anthony Towns sat out of the Warriors’ trip to face the Knicks to avoid lining up against former Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Jimmy Butler.
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Towns was attending the funeral of a family friend.
Timberwolves fans chanted ‘Draymond sucks’ while the 35-year-old was on air during last year’s playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks and it appears the sentiment hasn’t changed.
“Sounds absolutely awful in every way possible,” wrote one on X after the decision was confirmed.
“Why? No one is interested in hearing his takes,” asked another.
“TNT losing the NBA is great for viewers,” a third said.
Green revealed during the regular season that he is keen to carve out a career in media once he retires.
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But while TNT bosses clearly enjoy having him on board, the appetite for his services elsewhere is unknown after he ruffled potential colleagues’ feathers.
The broadcaster is losing its NBA rights after Amazon’s $19.8 billion bid to muscle into the space.
It’s a move that has added the likes of Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash and Parker to a line-up from the 2025-26 season – and Green might have designs on a lucrative spot on that roster in the years ahead.
Inside the NBA will move to ESPN and ABC next season as part of a sub-licensing agreement.
Popular hosts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith are all set to return after one of the most beloved shows in sports was handed a lifeline.
Whether Green will join them is up for debate.
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His Warriors were tipped to go on a long playoff run but Anthony Edwards‘ Wolves were too strong for an ageing line-up and triumphed 4-1.
Steph Curry‘s injury didn’t help matters and with a core consisting of players past the age of 35, Golden State’s championship window is small and closing fast.
Green was fined $50,000 by the NBA for “making an inappropriate comment that questions the integrity of game officials” during a Game 3 loss.
ESPN’s Shams Charania claimed that the rap was over a reference to the point spread of 5.5 after fouling out with 4:38 minutes remaining in a two-point game.
Per Spotrac, Green has been fined $992,000 in his career, as well as $3.2 million for suspensions.
After Game 2, Green claimed that there was an “agenda” to portray him as an “angry Black man.”
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“They make me look like the angry black man,” he said. “I’m not an angry black man. I’m a very successful, educated black man with a great family, and I’m great at basketball. I’m great at what I do.”
“The agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I’m sick of it. It’s ridiculous.”
