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Draymond Green goes for the jugular in response to Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks

In the modern, switch-happy NBA, you’re often as strong as your weakest link on defense. The Memphis Grizzlies learned that applies to trash talk as well on Wednesday.

For reasons increasingly difficult to ascertain, Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks again tried to reawaken the team’s rivalry with the Golden State Warriors by going after Draymond Green in an ESPN interview published last Friday.

Trash talk between the two teams has been common, but it hasn’t gone Memphis’ way so far. The Grizzlies were eliminated by the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals last year and have lost both games to the team this season, to say nothing of their other issues right now.

Brooks still didn’t mind speaking his mind:

“I don’t like Draymond at all,” he says. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him anywhere else , you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”

In that ESPN article, Green reportedly laughed and declined to respond when asked about Brooks’ words. As it turns out, he was waiting to respond via “The Draymond Green Show,” and he went directly for the throat.

A quick sampling of Green’s messages to Brooks as he went through the interview on his show:

“I, quite frankly, wouldn’t like a team that beats me all the time either.”

“You were a little kid in high school watching us win championships. Should be happy you even witnessed that.”

“You talk a lot now, so if you’d have four rings, sure you talk a lot more. Four All-Stars? You probably talk a bit more. Defensive Player of the Year? You damn sure would talk more. Two Olympic gold medals? You definitely would be talking, because that would mean you beat Team USA, and we all know how that goes.”

“If you ever wondered why the Memphis Grizzlies are not ready to compete for a championship, look no further than this idiot right here. They’re actually depending on this guy to help them win a championship. And he says his game is cool. Quite frankly, that just shows how little you know about basketball. And yet, you run around talking about a dynasty? The dynasty starts after you, not with you.”

“I’m trying to figure out why they like you in Memphis. Or do they like you in Memphis? That’s a better question, I’m not sure your teammates like you. But I can tell you why they like me over [in Golden State]. When you contribute in the way I have contributed to four championships, they tend to like you.”

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors taunts Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Chase Center on December 25, 2022 in San Francisco, California.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Dillon Brooks doesn’t like Draymond Green. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

It’s easy to win the trash talk battle when you have four rings and the other guy has zero, but as the Grizzlies are showing now, it’s very hard to win a ring.

As luck would have it, the Grizzlies and Warriors are scheduled to face off for a third time this season on Thursday, with the Grizzlies still missing Ja Morant. At least the Green and Brooks battles should be fun.