Draymond Green Calls Out ‘Disrespect’ of Carmelo Anthony Around the League

Carmelo Anthony has endured his fair share of naysayers and critics after making his return to the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green called out the “disrespect” around the league for a player that he sees as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, via Logan Murdock of NBC Sports Bay Area:

“I just think it’s the disrespect that goes around this league for a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Warriors forward Draymond Green told NBC Sports Bay Area on Wednesday. “Even if you don’t think he can play, which obviously we all know he can, but even if you don’t think he can play, he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. If he wants to play basketball, then he should be able to play.”

Green noted that Anthony’s famed press conference with the Thunder, where he laughed about coming off of the bench, was turned against the veteran by his doubters:

Most NBA observers point to Anthony’s preseason press conference while a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder -- when he laughed off the notion of coming off the bench -- as a primary reason for his exile. However, Green disagreed.

”It just gave people in a position of power the right to use it against him,” Green said, using air-quotes while providing the statement. ”People who have done less for the game making decisions on people who have done more.

”It’s bulls--t.”

Green went on to compliment Anthony’s ability to bring life to the Blazers after some early struggles. You can read more from Murdock’s piece here.