Draymond Green, the biggest trash talker currently in the NBA, recently shared some choice words to describe the OKC Thunder and their post-game antics that they take part in during on-court interviews.
Regularly seen over the last two seasons has been a sizable number of Oklahoma City players huddled around one another when talking to reporters directly following a win.
Though to some members of the media, this is seen as a clear example of cohesion, the Golden State Warriors star views this all-inclusive act as somewhat damaging to their image, specifically when it relates to their fear factor across the league, stating on a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show:
"There’s a certain seriousness that it takes to win in this league, and there’s a certain fear you have to instill in teams in order to win. I just don’t know if they’re instilling that fear in teams with all the bromance and stuff after the game," Green said.
Since such comments were made, fans, pundits, and even Thunder players have come out in defense of this post-game camaraderie, with beloved veteran Luguentz Dort severely downplaying the remarks by labeling them as "a comment like any other comment on TV."
Joining in on the recent in-house responses is OKC cornerstone Jalen Williams, who, following Monday's triumphant win over the Orlando Magic, issued quite possibly the most hilariously accurate descriptor of Green's seeming fascination with the ball club's "bromance."
Jalen Williams calls Draymond Green's Thunder comments 'weird'
"I don't really focus on other teams or what they're doing until we play them. We're gonna continue to do it... We enjoy it... I feel like it's kind of weird to have a strong opinion on it," Williams said.
J-Dub would continue on to explain the significance and impact that Oklahoma City's post-game activities has on the team as a collective, saying that it's "how we come together as a team."
Despite what Green may believe about these on-court group-ups and how they could affect the "certain fear" they need to be taken seriously as a championship contender, from a statistical and in-game standpoint the Thunder have without question proven themselves to be worthy of their top-flight title-odds in 2024-25.
Already they've shattered records, both franchise and league-wide, and are making out as easily the best defensive unit in the association, leading all teams in blocks (7.4), steals (13.1), and defensive rating (93.8).
What makes these feats all the more impressive is the fact that they have yet to step foot on the floor at full-strength, as key contributors like Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and Kenrich Williams are all still sidelined as they recover from their respective injuries.
Once they return, it's safe to say that this Thunder team will become even scarier than they already project themselves to be. Post-game bromance or not, Oklahoma City is undeniably a matchup every team should fear.