Draymond Green made history earlier this season when he inked a multiyear contract with Turner Sports to become an in-season player-broadcaster. The Warriors forward was voted by the league’s coaches as an All-Star reserve but he’ll be sidelined by calf/back injuries for the foreseeable future.
Turner Sports will take advantage of the opportunity and have Green join the “Inside the NBA” crew – Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith – during a simulcast on TBS. TNT will still carry a traditional broadcast for the All-Star Game for Sunday’s 5 p.m. PT tip-off.
During All-Star media day on Saturday in Cleveland, Green told reporters he’s looking forward to the chance to broadcast the showcase.
“I’ve always been pretty comfortable in front of the camera,” Green said. “I’m just going to do it. In going to do it, I’ve realized that it’s so much different than what I thought. It’s so much different than being the guy being interviewed and sitting in that chair. It’s a totally different thing."
Obviously, Green would rather be playing Sunday, but this isn’t a bad opportunity for Green to get some work in a high-visibility situation.
“The best thing for me is getting those reps and figuring it out and getting in the flow,” Green said. “It’s totally different than what I expected. You get accustomed to sitting around the chair, being interviewed and it’s just a totally different thing. Just doing and realizing, ‘OK, I’m good at this. I need to get better in this area.’ It’s just like breaking down a game."
Green, 31, said that he’s interested in continuing his TV career after his playing career is over, but that he is also going to pursue other endeavors.
“It will definitely make up some part of what I do, post-career,” Green said. “But I’m not sure I’ll just do one thing when I’m done playing.”
