IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Draymond Green has angered NBA fans and has found himself at the center of a firestorm.
On Wednesday night, ESPN’s Inside The NBA crew was discussing the future of the Golden State Warriors.
During the segment, Barkley told Green, who was replacing Shaquille O’Neal for the night, that he felt that the Warriors’ era was over.
“It’s over for the Warriors. No disrespect. It ends for every old team,” Barkley said.
“You had your run, you get old, you let Klay go. You and Steph are on the backside of your careers; it just passed you by.”
“Sports are for young people. You hope to have a great long career, but sports … nobody wins when they’re 37, 38.”
Green immediately fired back at Barkley.
“Yeah, I mean, I think the goal is just to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green said.
The awkward moment went viral on social media.
Things got a little tense on the ‘Inside the NBA set when Draymond took a shot at Chuck’s final years in Houston 😬 pic.twitter.com/g9xRH5H6qq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 6, 2026
NBA fans on social media blasted Green for his comment.
“Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical. In his 4 years in Houston, Chuck averaged 16-12-4, including averaging 18 & 12 during a run to the Western Conference Finals. Draymond continues to recreate history,” said Nick Wright on X.
“This is why ring culture is a problem. You got Draymond thinking he can show up Charles,” commented another fan.
Fans even went as far as to post highlights of Charles Barkley on social media to defend the NBA great.
Charles Barkley with the Houston Rockets
43 PTS, 15 REB, 4 STL (75% FG)
30 PTS, 23 REB
30 PTS, 14 REB, 5 STL
27 PTS, 17 REB, 12 AST
26 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 5 3PT
20 PTS, 33 REB
19 PTS, 27 REB, 7 AST
18 PTS, 25 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/88u1ao6ItF https://t.co/ShQOf9JCgK— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 7, 2026
Green and Barkley will surely address the situation the next time Inside The NBA airs.