In case you’ve missed it, Draymond Green and Kenyon Martin have been feuding of late. It all started when Martin called Green a “fake tough guy,” pointing out that he picks fights with players who won’t retaliate. This upset Green, and he clapped back by comparing his own accomplishments to Martin’s.
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Green’s biggest dig was that Martin underachieved as a #1 overall pick. The New Jersey Nets had picked Kenyon in the 2000 Draft. Needless to say, it turned out to be a heated exchange between the two.
And who better to unpack the drama than a guy who played with both Green and Martin? Enter Richard Jefferson, who jumped into the fold, coming to the defense of his former Nets teammate.
Jefferson started by saying Martin was an elite defender. “Kenyon was maybe the most elite defender physically, communication-wise, intensity, all the things. That’s who Kenyon was,” Jefferson professed on Road Trippin’.
He later added that Martin had the same role for this team that Green does today. “We were picked to finish second-to-last in our conference. We led the conference start to finish and went to the finals,” said Jefferson, talking about the Nets’ run to the 2002 NBA Finals.
“And that was because, in my opinion, obviously, Jason Kidd was our Steph Curry. But Kenyon Martin was our Draymond Green. Kenyon was very similar to you, Draymond, as an individual that would fight against people,” he added.
Martin was known for his defensive impact. He had the athleticism and energy that could strike fear in opposing players. It’s very similar to the value Green brings to the Golden State Warriors now.
Later on, Jefferson shared positives and negatives about both players. But he concluded that, having played with both, he’s not surprised that the argument occurred.
“Both of y’all have been to anger management, and rightfully so. Both of you guys have. And I’ve played with both of you, and you both need it. And it’s also both of your guys’ superpowers, that intensity. So, I’m not surprised that two alphas in this space don’t get along,” Jefferson said.
The former forward, who played 17 years in the NBA, then urged both players to stop fighting. “So, please stop arguing,” Jefferson pleaded. “Neither of you guys are going to win this argument… Stop disrespecting each other. Start to support each other.”
At the end of it all, Jefferson tried to argue that both players are somewhat the same. And while their defensive intensity is similar, offensively, Green outclasses Martin by quite a bit.
Sure, Martin averaged more points per game by the end of his career. But Green has contributed as a scorer while also being a superior facilitator with a three-point shot. He even has a defensive player of the year trophy, something Martin does not.
All in all, Green and Martin remain at odds, yet Jefferson would like his former teammates to stop the nonsense. After all, the beef arose out of nowhere. But as he said, it’s not surprising to see two alphas go at each other this hard.
