Kevin Garnett sees similarities between Draymond Green and Charles Barkley but believes that their styles of play are not very similar.
Earlier this week, the media asked the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green if he was “the modern-day” Charles Barkley. Green quickly replied, saying “hell no,” and then said that he got his attitude and trash talking from his family. However, he did add that he tried to pick up some of Barkley’s basketball moves because they are both undersized power forwards.
This was when fans of the sport went crazy and started to argue with each other about whether Green is this era’s Barkley or not.
Well fans, put your Venn diagrams on Green and Barkley away because Kevin Garnett has an answer for all of you. In an interview with Business Insider, Garnett, who played against both Green and Barkley, was asked if the two players have the same style.
Garnett answered by making a comparison of Green and Barkley. He said that Green is very articulate, and is a very unselfish basketball player who will put his team’s needs ahead of his own needs. As for Barkley, Garnett said that the Hall of Famer was outspoken and was more of an individual type of player.
"“”I think Draymond is a person who is very predicated to what he says. He’s articulate. He does his homework… Not only that, but he’s a very good player. He’s an unselfish player. It takes a lot of him to make that thing, to me, go in Golden State.“I think he’s different from Charles. Charles was a player who spoke his mind, but was a little more individual. A lot more to himself. Charles was a little more combative than Draymond… Charles is obviously a great, and Draymond, he’s still making his greatness and writing his whole thing, but I definitely see the parallels.”"
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For his career totals, Barkley averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. Green averaged 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the 2016-17 season.
With these stats, and their play on the court in mind, do you agree with Garnett’s assessment of the two players? Share your thoughts in the comments.