SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green did not hold back when asked about the state of the NBA, calling today’s game “very boring” and lacking in strategic depth.
Green, a four-time NBA champion, spoke candidly during All-Star Weekend, criticizing the league’s current reliance on speed and three-point shooting over tactical play.
“Absolutely,” Green said when asked if he thought the modern NBA was boring.
The veteran forward referenced a past interview with the late Kobe Bryant, who described today’s game as “accidental basketball.” Green echoed Bryant’s sentiment, arguing that today’s teams rely too much on three-point shooting and fast breaks rather than structured, strategic plays.
“It’s all penetrate and pitch,” Bryant had said in the interview. “You may make the shot, you may not.”
Green added: “He couldn’t have been more right.”
Despite record-breaking TV deals, increased player salaries, and high attendance numbers, Green believes the quality of play has declined.
He pointed to a recent matchup against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as an example of the kind of basketball he enjoys—one where every possession is a calculated move rather than just a sprint to the three-point line.
“Every possession is some type of chess move,” Green said. “You don’t get that today in the NBA, often. … You don’t just get that on a regular basis. It’s just who can run faster, who can hit more threes, it’s no substance. I think it’s very boring.”
Green’s comments come at a time when the NBA is evaluating the impact of increased three-point shooting on the game.
Teams are attempting more three-pointers than ever before. The 2015-16 Warriors, who won a historic 73 games, led the league with 31.6 three-point attempts per game. In comparison, the 2024-25 Boston Celtics are currently attempting 48.3 per game, putting them on pace to break the all-time record.
Ironically, the Warriors played a major role in ushering in this era. Their small-ball lineup, with Green at center and Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as three-point specialists, revolutionized basketball and contributed to three championships in four years.
However, Green believes the game has lost its balance.
“You want to be one of the teams that aren’t playing an accidental game,” he said. “That’s the challenge.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently acknowledged concerns about the direction of the game.
During an interview with Colin Cowherd on Jan. 15, Silver said, “As stewards of the game, Joe Dumars leads our competition committee here, we will tweak it, we will correct those issues.”
Silver added that while changes are being considered, the league does not want to act impulsively.
“The one thing we don’t want to do is, I don’t want to just kneejerk move the three-point line,” Silver said. “We’re sort of going through a process now, seeing how these players are adapting to the new rules, and figuring out what changes we should make.”
Green remains one of the league’s most vocal players, and his comments add to the ongoing debate about the future of basketball.
While he appreciates what the Warriors helped create, he believes the game needs more structure and strategy to maintain its appeal.
The league will continue evaluating potential adjustments, but for now, Green will keep playing the way he believes basketball should be played—intelligently and with purpose.
