Draymond Green made it clear: he is not afraid to give his opinion on what he believes in.
He explicitly explained this on Thursday after the Warriors practice.
“I firmly believe that I will always remain true to what you believe,” Green said.
Therefore, he does not believe he needs to take additional steps to address the salary gap between NBA players and WNBA players.
American women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe has hit back at Green’s initial remarks that women ‘make complaints’ rather than take action. Just like former WNBA player Candace Parker.
But Green stands pat.
“I think what I said was extremely misinterpreted,” Green said. “Because I’m on their side.”
Initially, Green would let it go and declare that he would not try to explain his message. A second later he changed his mind.
“What I’m saying here is what I think can work … Let’s try it … We live in a day and time of everything driven by the media, by social media. You can pick up anything in two seconds to determine what was said, who says what, but … the steps they can take behind closed doors are not always reported, but it is always reported and it says they are not enough do not earn money. So and so said that they do not earn as much money as men.
“What’s my point, let’s make sure we manage what is reported … let’s make sure we ask for everything that can help change what everyone wants to change.”
In Green’s mind, it’s less about directing the WNBA, because the league simply generates less money than the NBA, and more about taking it to companies like Nike or Beats at Dre to encourage them to read more of female athletes’ stories. to share.
This in turn will increase interest in women’s sports and increase income.
“All of these companies (can) tell these stories to help advance the ultimate point,” Green says. “If we can help drive the core, there is no going back. There’s no way for anyone to say, ‘Well, you do not earn this money because of this number.’ “No. What can we do to move this number here so that the women can benefit from all this growth?”
Green acknowledged Rapinoe’s comments that she said it was “unfortunately in the position” [Green’s] in, with all the resources he has and the ability to have a much more educated opinion, which he just does not have, “and declares that he feels it is” sorry that she thinks it’s sorry that it is my view is. ”
He was actually encouraged that she had an opinion on his ideas.
“At the end of the day, it’s the same thing Megan wants and I want,” Green said. “And if she believes in doing something in a certain way, brings her to the end goal, I’m all for it. And if I believe in doing something that reaches a certain end goal, I’m all for it. So, if we can both do something to move the needle to get to the end goal, great.I have no complaints about what she wants to do, or any female athlete, or anyone trying to do their thing drives and what they want to do does not want to be done.It does not matter to me how we get there.What is important to me is that we get there.
“I’m not going to sit here and condemn her comments to me, or what she did. I’m fully supported by what she’s doing to reach the end goal, because that’s what I want to see happen and what I want to do. to help. “
Green is not surprised that his comments get a life of their own. He is not shocked, but people do not like that he is specific athletes in his own brand original tweets or that his conclusion was not as intended.
The brand aspect of it he did on purpose. As for the message, he understands that it is difficult to convey everything on Twitter, where he has to do it in 280 characters or less. He says he does not want you to understand his full position from his tweets.
“What I want to do is make my tweets aware,” Green said. “I want to have these conversations to help get here to the side of the good, to the side where we’re all trying to get, to the side we want to see these women get.”
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Green wants people to have different views on the steps that need to be taken to break down the wage gap. If everyone at the table has the same opinion, they can miss a great opportunity. And that’s why he wants to have ‘one hundred percent’ constructive conversations.
“It’s likely to lead to a better conversation,” Green said. “It will probably help us sit down more.”