Draymond Green shared insights about his mother's trash-talking skills: 'She talks bad about all the players on my team but annihilates me'

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Draymond Green shared insights about his mother's trash-talking skills: 'She talks bad about all the players on my team but annihilates me' originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Known for his elite playmaking, defense and leadership, Draymond Green is undoubtedly one the brightest minds in the NBA. Drafted in the second round as the 35th pick, the Michigan State product has certainly surpassed most expectations.
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Born to Mary Babers-Green and Wallace Davis, Draymond was 12 years old when his parents divorced. However, the former DPOY formed a strong bond with his stepfather, Raymond Green, to the extent that he even adopted his last name.
Draymond's mother, Mary, had a very influential role in the Warriors star's life. Despite all the financial hurdles, Mama Green ensured her son faced no hurdles in his pursuit of a pro basketball career. That said, she was also his toughest critic.
Recently, appearing on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' Dray discussed how his mom often schooled him during games, adding that none of his teammates were spared either.
'My mom since I was a child has been the mom who from the stands, she yells, 'You suck.' But the thing about my mom is she talks bad about all the players on my team. She kills them, but she absolutely annihilates me. I've always heard the stories from it where, in the beginning, a parent will almost want to get snappy at her, and as they continue to watch her, they realize how bad she talks about me, they just like, 'Oh, that's no problem, what she's saying about my kid,'' said Draymond, adding how when he often told his mom to stop, she would be mad at him as if he did something wrong.
A strict disciplinarian
Babers-Green is certainly beaming with joy, considering how far Dray has come in his life. The 6'6' forward defied all odds, whether it was not having the ideal athleticism and agility, or being undersized for his position. The veteran forward carved his niche, making him one of the cornerstones of the Warriors franchise.
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In a 2015 interview with GQ, when asked what about Draymond made her most proud, she had the following to say.
'I'm not big on proud. I'm a spiritual person. So I look at it, if I'm saying I'm proud, I'm taking something away from the Creator. All I did was give birth to him. So I look at as one thing that makes me happy about that he has stayed true to himself. He's rich now. He's a well-off type of guy now. He still uses his money like it was when he had the little money. He still has his same Range Rover that he had when he first got there,' mentioned Mama Green.
When asked if she was better than her son when it came to trash-talking, Babers-Green admitted she had become rusty with age but would get him at times. Mary believed a lot of her talking smack had to do with the city of Saginaw, where life was tough, and there was no room for those who complained.
Related: "God, if you let me get through this, I won't play no more" - Larry Bird describes the moment that made him retire for good
'The bad boy' image
One of the most controversial players in recent times, Draymond has often made headlines for the wrong reasons. Involved in multiple altercations, ejections, fines and suspensions, the 2017 steals leader is also occasionally an official's worst nightmare.
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In recent years, things seem to have gone a little too far, whether it was the punching incident with Jordan Poole or getting into a brawl with Rudy Gobert and Jusuf Nurkic. Nonetheless, the Dubs enforcer was at his best behavior for most of the 2024-25 season, with his defensive prowess shining yet again.
Related: Shaquille O'Neal reveals which two dunks in his NBA career are his favorite: "He was all over me, and I was like, 'Get the fu** off me'"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.