'I'm not an angry black man': NBA player Draymond Green lays into media members over their 'agenda' about his race



Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green accused the media of perpetuating a slanted narrative that paints him in a bad light because he's black.

The Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated Green's team from the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday night, but it was just a few days earlier when the star player was in the spotlight for comments he made to reporters.

'To keep the agenda, to try to keep making me look like an angry black man, is crazy.'

After a 117-93 loss on May 8, Green was in the locker room when he accused media members of constantly painting him as an "angry black man."

"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," Green said in a video posted by the Athletic's Anthony Slater.

RELATED: 'People worry about you': Draymond Green bizarrely questioned by journalist who insists his suspensions are a problem

Draymond Green during a playoff game, May 8, 2025. Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

After rattling off the self-boasting remarks, Green said reporters continually have been perpetuating the idea to the point where it seemed like they had an agenda.

"I'm great at what I do. To keep the agenda, to try to keep making me look like an angry black man, is crazy. I'm sick of it. It's ridiculous," Green added as he walked off.

Fans immediately responded to Green's comments with videos of his on-court antics, which included stomping on another player's chest, and some of his more aggressive fouls.

Others pointed to some of Green's most serious altercations, such as a fight with a teammate at a Warriors practice in 2022.

"Any time someone tells you what they aren't, they're exactly that," sports analyst Gary Sheffield Jr. told Blaze News, in reference to Green's comments.

After the Warriors lost 102-97 two days later on May 10, Green was once again in the spotlight for remarks he made late in the fourth quarter after fouling out.

RELATED: Draymond Green weighs in on LeBron James vs. Stephen A. Smith feud: 'That's a**-backwards'

Draymond Green reacts after fouling out of a playoff game, May 10, 2025. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

As podcaster Pat McAfee pointed out, Green was seen saying the "[the spread is] five and a half, I know what they're doing," referring to gambling odds before the game with the Timberwolves.

According to McAfee, some fans even accused Green of trying to the fix the game, but the NBA felt differently and handed down a suspension for the 35-year-old for questioning officials.

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"Draymond Green has been fined $50,000 for making an inappropriate comment that questions the integrity of game officials," the NBA wrote.

According to Sheffield, Green's behavior has become part and parcel of his playing style. The broadcaster said Green possesses "the maturity of a pickup basketball dad in the driveway."

The forward's complaints aren't a cause for alarm, Sheffield said, claiming that "any time the Warriors are down two scores, they start fouling and whining."

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'They can't fire me': Charles Barkley says ESPN will need to get used to his freedom speech



NBA commentator Charles Barkley said he will not have his free speech impeded in any way when he joins ESPN next fall.

Barkley hosts "Inside the NBA" on TNT alongside former NBA greats Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith, as well as broadcaster Ernie Johnson. With the group, especially Barkley and O'Neal, known for their uncensored rants, Barkley was asked if he feared having his freedom stifled as the crew prepares to move to ESPN for the 2025-2026 NBA season.

"I'm not gonna change. I'mma do what I wanna do," Barkley firmly stated. "Nobody's gonna tell me what to say or what to do."

Barkley then recalled a recent rant about fellow analyst and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins and referred to him as a guy who "don't know his a** from a hole in the wall."

Using that as a base example of how he would not be coerced into changing his tone, Barkley said his personality will not be dulled for ESPN, nor did he think the network would be in a position to fire him if he was too controversial.

"I'm not gonna change my personality," Barkley continued in an interview with Dan Dakich. "They can't fire me. I make too much money to get fired."

(L-R) Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley in 2017. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TNT

The hit show's move to ESPN coincides with the NBA's new TV deal with Disney Networks, NBC, and Amazon. The 11-year, $76 billion agreement will see "Inside the NBA" be independently produce by TNT Sports in Atlanta, but it will air on ESPN, the network announced, per the El Paso Times.

Sports reporter Alejandro Avila told Blaze News that he expects clashes between the network and its soon-to-be star anchors.

"ESPN hasn't changed its model to stray from its progressive programming. To uphold their identity, they’ll need to crack a whip on anyone who doesn’t get in line," Avila said.

Barkley and O'Neal offer far more "common sense" than the network is used to, the reporter continued. He added, "The mother ship would prefer that didn't happen."

Barkley explained that while he will likely opt out of his contract after two years, it includes the option to extend it to seven years. Therefore, If ESPN did choose to fire him, the network would owe him seven years of salary.

"So they can't fire me. First of all, if they fired me, they gotta pay me for seven years, and I'mma quit way before then. But if they want to fire me, I would love for them to do that," Barkley laughed.

After insisting his paycheck was too powerful, Barkley reaffirmed, "Nobody at ESPN is gonna tell me what to say or do. Period."

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Charles Barkley has STRONG thoughts on men competing against women in sports



NBA Hall of Fame member Charles Barkley said the idea of men playing in women's sports is no longer an argument worth having, as he cannot be convinced.

Never one to shy away from a loaded question, Barkley was asked by OutKick's Dan Dakich about a recent study Nike is allegedly funding.

The study, according to Fox News, has been testing how much puberty blockers are needed for male adolescents in order to reduce athletic performance to a level where they could "fairly" compete against females.

The study first came to light during a New York Times piece in defense of Blaire Fleming, a male athlete who dominated women's volleyball in the NCAA in 2024.

"Have you seen this thing?" Dakich asked Barkley.

"I have not, but I'm a make this very simple for you, Dan. Men should not play sports against women," Barkley replied. "I'm not gonna get into all the bulls**t that's going on out here in the world today."

'I'm never gonna think it's all right for men to play sports against women.'

Barkley told Dakich on his show, "Don't @ Me," that while he has love for gay and transgender people and is against discrimination, "Men should not play sports against women. If anybody thinks that, I think they're stupid."

Barkley added that under no circumstances does he think it is appropriate for a male athlete to play against women. He continued, "If anybody have a problem with that, they gonna have to get over it, because I'm not gonna change. I'm not gonna change. I just think it's wrong, period."

Dakich concurred and lamented that in comparison to all the political positions and arguments that have taken place in recent history, this subject was not one worth fighting over. Barkley again agreed and said he didn't even think the topic was controversial.

"I'm never gonna think it's all right for men to play sports against women. I don't even think that's controversial. That's the thing that's funny. When you see these debates on television, like, yeah. Men shouldn't play sports against women. I'm done. I don't wanna hear you try to explain it to me. No. No. No. No. No, I don't wanna hear it. I'm not gonna argue with you. Man shouldn't play sports against women."

Barkley has no issue with making political statements or remarks on social issues that others deem controversial.

Recently, he said that friend and fellow broadcaster Stephen A. Smith should not run for president for the Democrats, despite pushes from many in the media for him to do so.

Barkley has also criticized the city of San Francisco on numerous occasions for its mismanagement and inability to solve its homelessness problem.

On the topic of transgender women, or rather men, in women's sports, Barkley concluded, "There's a lot of s**t we can argue over. That ain't one of them."

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Legendary coach calls out NBA for booking games on 'sacred days' like Christmas and Easter



One of the all-time greatest NBA coaches spoke out against the NBA for scheduling games on both Christmas and Easter, calling them sacred days.

On Christmas Day 2024, the NBA had five games scheduled, while Good Friday and Easter Monday each featured two games.

This apparently did not sit well with former coach Phil Jackson, the man who coached Michael Jordan to six championships with the Chicago Bulls.

"Again the NBA tests faith by playing multiple games on Christmas and Easter…sacred days," Jackson wrote on X.

Shockingly, this was just the second time that Jackson had used his social media page in almost seven years, and it was to complain about the NBA's schedule.

Jackson has spoken vaguely about his faith on his timeline in the past, but way back in 2013 and only in reference to movies.

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It should be noted, however, that the NBA playing games on Christmas is not at all new, as the league began playing games on Christmas Day in 1947, its second season. At the same time, the NBA has reportedly had a five-game schedule for Christmas since 2008. All of this came within Jackson's tenure too; he retired in 2016.

Still, the man of faith clearly has his principles. He is one of the few coaches to take a non-woke approach to the NBA's campaigns and even spoke out in 2023 to say he had not watched the league in years.

"They had things on their back like, 'Justice.' They made a funny thing like, 'Justice just went to the basket and Equal Opportunity just knocked him down.' … So my grandkids thought that was pretty funny to play up those names. So I couldn't watch that," Jackson said at the time.

The legendary bench boss did not approve of the political slogans written on NBA courts, either, and said the move was "trying to cater to an audience or trying to bring a certain audience into play."

Explaining that people want to see sports as "non-political," Jackson mocked the league for its COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, Florida.

"They did something that was kind of wanky; they did a bubble down in Orlando and all the teams that could qualify went down there and stayed down there."

With 11 total championships, Jackson will forever be known as one of the best coaches to walk on a court, with the ability to harness even the biggest personalities. He handled Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and of course Michael Jordan.

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Watch: Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards fined for vulgar exchange with fans



Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards found himself writing another check, or perhaps taking a pay cut once again, due to an interaction with fans on April 19.

The NBA announced Edwards was fined $50,000 for "inappropriate language" and "making an obscene gesture toward a fan" last Saturday.

With 4:33 remaining in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers, Edwards spiced up Game 1 of the playoff series with a playful, yet inappropriate exchange with fans.

'Where are your kids?!'

After arguing with the fans about how much money he makes, Edwards noted that teammate Rudy Gobert also has made upwards of $300 million during his NBA tenure, as a back-and-forth brag with the fans carried on.

As hecklers asked Edwards, "Where are your kids?!" and told him, "You suck," the shooting guard decided to make penile comparisons as a last-ditch effort to convince fans of his worth.

"My d*** bigger than yours!" Edwards said, grabbing his crotch. "My d*** bigger than yours!" he repeated, which eventually sparked laughter from the hecklers. The short exchange can be watched here.

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Edwards finished 2024 with a $100,000 fine for using swear words during a live interview following a tight win over the Houston Rockets, but the sum total of these two incidents is nowhere near the entirety of money the 23-year-old has had to fork over this season.

According to Spotrac, Edwards has been fined $272,000 for technical fouls et al. in the 2024-2025 season, and coupled with another near $250,000 suspension as a result of 16 technicals, he totals an approximate $514,393 in fines this season.

As for his money brags, while Edwards has earned just a measly $86 million so far in his career, he is in the first year of a new contract extension worth over $244 million.

For teammate Gobert, the Frenchman has already totaled more than that and will take home somewhere in the neighborhood of $375 million when his contract expires in 2028.

The NBA has seemingly lost control of some of its biggest stars this year and media members, former players, and fans have all taken notice.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has taunted the league with banned actions and celebrations despite having received a 25-game suspension. When warned not to do any finger-gun celebrations, as he has been seen on camera with real guns, Morant immediately did it again, anyway.

Even perennial star LeBron James turned off NBA legend and analyst Isiah Thomas when he was filmed in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, taking warm-ups shirtless in gray sweatpants and a do-rag.

Panelist Steve Smith, another former NBA champion, agreed with Thomas and suggested the league "go back to suits."

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Charles Barkley says Stephen A. Smith presidential run likely started as a joke: 'Knock it off'



NBA legend Charles Barkley said he would never vote for NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, and Democrats are in danger of losing his vote forever if they run him.

"Calm down, Stephen A. — and Stephen A. is one of my friends," Barkley said on a recent episode of the Sports Illustrated podcast "SI Media with Jimmy Traina."

Smith has been openly flirting with the idea of politics since the 2024 election cycle, talking seriously about the candidates and speaking on divisive topics.

In November, he told the hosts of "The View" that he would consider running for president if he felt he had a "legitimate shot" to win.

"I'm half joking, but I kind of mean it," Smith said, per Sportsnaut. "I mean, I have no desire to be a congressional figure or a senator, but if you came to me and you told me I had a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States of America, I would definitely consider it."

It was that half joke that Barkley may have been referring to when he told the ESPN host he needed to "knock it off."

'I would not even consider voting for anybody else.'

"Come on, man. Stop it. Come on," Barkley continued. "It had to start out as a joke, and he started taking it serious. Come on, man. All I would say is, 'Knock it off.' And that's the best way to phrase it."

Host Jimmy Traina noted that the idea of running for president as a joke was long theorized about President Trump when he first decided to run in the 2016 federal election.

"The funny thing is that's what everyone says happened with Trump; he first started it as a joke because 'The Apprentice' was getting canceled. Now, you're saying Stephen A., like, you would think it's starting as like, 'Oh, let me get some attention for 'First Take,' I just got my big contract.' But now it's like he's on ABC Sunday morning saying, 'You know I got to run.'"

Barkley, forever game to talk about any issue, revealed that he would not consider voting for the Democratic Party unless it runs either Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania (D) or Governor Wes Moore of Maryland (D).

"I would not even consider voting for anybody else other than one of those two," Barkley said.

Interestingly, Barkley added that even though Trump cannot run again, the Hall of Fame player said he would not vote for Trump because he's "just not my cup of tea."

When Traina plainly asked if Barkley would vote for Smith, Barkley replied, "No. Hard No."

Smith recently signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN — a contract that would certainly cut into any 2028 presidential bid.

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LeBron James called out for taking warm-ups shirtless on NBA court, sparking call for league to bring back dress code



Two-time NBA champion Isiah Thomas called out LeBron James for appearing shirtless on the court in Houston, saying it should be a fineable offence.

During a segment on NBATV, the network was previewing an upcoming game between James' Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. The cameras quickly cut to James taking practice shots in the Toyota Center in Houston, shirtless, with grey sweatpants and what appeared to be a do-rag.

As the footage rolled, Thomas immediately voiced his disgust with James' attire.

"I just totally, 100% object to this," Thomas said.

One of his colleagues added, "Me too."

Thomas went on, "If I was the GM or coach, I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this. I mean, we are professional, NBA league. We ain't summer league. We ain't at the YMCA.

Panelist Steve Smith, another former player and NBA champion, agreed with Thomas and suggested that the league needs to "go back to suits."

"Abso-mmhmm-lutely," Thomas replied, censoring himself.

'Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody, fine that. Put a fine on that.'

Thomas, now 63, is known as one of the most physically tough players ever, along with being one of the most vocal. However, fans would be hard-pressed to find him in subpar attire when acting in an NBA capacity as a coach or player.

"I just think the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much," Thomas continued. "Look, I like LeBron, I'm a fan of his, so forth and so on, but to walk out on the floor before a game, with no shirt on, and shoot, I mean, come on, man? Where we at? What we doing? Where we at?”

"Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody, fine that. Put a fine on that," Thomas said.

James, by most accounts, replied the following day, but was not looking to respond to any of Thomas' remarks directly.

"Man I was going to say something but it’s useless at this point in my career!" the star wrote, before congratulating his coach on a great season.

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The NBA introduced a dress code under Commissioner David Stern in 2005 and that was said to be implemented due to star players like Allen Iverson taking ever-increasing liberties while in a professional capacity.

Under current Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA began allowing polo shirts for coaches in 2020, followed by a relaxation to "casual attire" in 2021.

League MVP Allen Iverson, April 2001. Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images

The NBA has been in a bit of panic over player representation and the league's image lately, with superstar player Ja Morant consistently flouting warnings about inappropriate gestures on the court.

Morant was suspended eight games without pay after being shown with a firearm in a club during an Instagram live video in March 2023. In June 2023, Morant was suspended for 25 games for wielding a gun once again on social media.

None of this stopped Morant from using finger-gun celebrations upon his return, again even after the NBA asked him to stop. Morant then proceeded to perform a grenade toss celebration days later.

Isiah Thomas announces his retirement (in a suit) in May 1994. Photo by MICHAEL E. SAMOJEDEN/AFP via Getty Images

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NBA champion Antoine Walker asks why the WNBA doesn't have any male ex-players covering their sport: 'Is there a problem?'



NBA great and champion Antoine Walker sparked a debate by seemingly pointing out hypocrisy in the WNBA.

Walker won an NBA title in 2006 with the Miami Heat and was a fan-favorite for his three-point shooting and charisma.

Taking to his X account, Walker posed a simple question that the WNBA and its supporters are likely not ready to answer:

"Can somebody explain why there aren’t any ex nba players covering WNBA ? but there are ex women basketball players covering the NBA?" Walker asked.

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While it is unclear if Walker was referring to any announcers in particular, the assumed premise behind his question is that the NBA is at a point where it is expected to incorporate female players into the mix for commentary and analysis, but there is no expectation for the women's league to incorporate male former players.

The fans agreed, as the most popular reply to Walker told the former star to expect to be attacked for "asking a genuine question."

"Is there a problem?" Walker replied.

"Great question, but you'll never get a[n] honest answer to it," one YouTuber chimed in.

Other fans blamed the culture around the WNBA, with one calling it a "disaster waiting to happen," unless the male analyst was the "most politically-correct [and] soft commentator of all-times."

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Podcaster Dre Baldwin tried to offer blunt honesty and said, "talking about the WNBA, when you played in the NBA, is a step backwards. Talking about the NBA, when you played in the WNBA, is a step up."

Meanwhile, one reader asked if any former NBA stars were "man enough" to take on such a role and said they were "probably too scared of what other men think."

At least four former WNBA players are easily recognizable for their roles as NBA commentators and analysts, including: Lisa Leslie, Chiney Ogwumike, Rebekkah Brunson, and Candace Parker.

Stephen Bardo is seemingly the only ex-NBA player with a similar role in the WNBA — he is a color analyst for the Chicago Sky. However, Bardo is a relative unknown from the NBA and played just 33 games over three seasons, most of which (23) were in the 1993 campaign.

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Luka’s 45-point revenge: Whitlock says Mavs trade is WAY deeper than just stupidity



On Wednesday, April 9, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks faced off on Dallas’ home court with the Lakers coming out victorious for the second time since Luka Dončić was traded to the team back in February. In the first game back in February, Dončić put up 19 points.

In the second game, however, his performance was truly astonishing. Dončić scored 45 points against his old team that traded him – a generational talent and the former face of the franchise – for 32-year-old Anthony Davis.

The trade has been condemned by many sports critics as the worst trade in NBA history. In response to Luka's staggering performance, ESPN analyst and former NBA player Jay Williams called the trade “basketball treason” and “self sabotage.” The scoreboard seems to confirm it.

Are the Mavs regretting their decision to let Luka go?

Well, that all depends on why they made the trade in the first place. Jason Whitlock and Jay Skapinac, host of “Skap Attack,” debate the real reason behind the Luka trade.

Skap chalks it up to pure stupidity on the part of Mav’s general manager Nico Harrison.

Harrison and Mavs ownership “lost their minds” when they traded Dončić – “an absolute generational star,” he says.

“The only two players ever to score at least 30 points per game in their playoff careers [are] Michael Jordan and Luka Dončić, and they trade that guy for Anthony Davis and one first round draft pick?” he asks in disbelief.

Skap predicts that the Mavs’ ship will sink early in the play-in tournament, if they can maintain their play-in position, while the Lakers, thanks to their new addition, may become “the best team in the Western conference.”

“Thanks for nothing, Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks,” he sighs.

Whitlock, however, doesn’t think it’s that simple. Anybody who knows the basics of basketball understands that trading Luka is basketball suicide, so there must be another reason behind it.

Two theories have him interested.

Theory #1: The NBA pushed for the trade because they “wanted LeBron to have a playoff run.”

Theory #2: The trade was spurred by the owners — the Adelson family — who want to use the team to “leverage their way into a casino and new arena.”

“Blaming Nico is an easy way out,” says Whitlock.

To hear more of the debate, watch the clip above.

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Fake Masters jackets, Beatles signatures, and a Kardashian photo named in fraudster's memorabilia scheme worth up to $550K



An FBI investigation resulted in a man pleading guilty to selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fake memorabilia.

A former California resident, who now resides in Mexico, pleaded guilty to selling fake sports memorabilia for nearly a decade and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Anthony J. Tremayne, a 58-year-old, sold "memorabilia containing purportedly genuine signatures of famous athletes, musicians, actors, and other celebrities," a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California reportedly read.

In the nine or so years Tremayne was selling memorabilia, he moved items like fraudulent Masters jackets, Pro Football Hall of Fame jackets, signed replica Stanley Cups, signed boxing gloves, and a photo with an alleged Kobe Bryant signature on it.

Items from the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Los Angeles Kings were all sold with signatures purported to be by members of those teams.

Tremayne's enterprise also consisted of typical celebrity memorabilia from musicians and actors; a fraudulently signed Beatles photo, guitars with fake signatures from Carrie Underwood and Prince, and even a Kardashian-signed picture.

It was the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" photo, that was alleged to have Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian's signatures, that ended up being the item that got Tremayne busted when he unknowingly sold it to an FBI agent for $200 in 2019.

A photo of the Kardashian sisters sold to an FBI agent is allegedly what brought down the memorabilia enterprise. Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images.

According to ESPN, Tremayne tended to include a "Certificate of Authenticity" with his allegedly genuine signatures, but the FBI determined those also to be fake.

In the end, the estimated price tag for Tremayne's earnings ranged between $250,000 and $550,000, and he now faces a maximum federal prison sentence of up to 20 years. Tremayne was charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

Tremayne is also accused of fleeing to Mexico to avoid paying $1.4 million in U.S. taxes; Tremayne formerly resided in West Covina, California, but lived in Rosarito, Mexico, when he was apprehended. He later appeared in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California.

However, a plea deal has reportedly reduced Tremayne's charges to just one count of mail fraud.

Other memorabilia that was noted in the federal scoop included forged signatures from actors from "Hunger Games," "Twilight," "Star Wars," and "Captain America."

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