Draymond Green-Austin Rivers beef, explained: Comment about Steve Kerr sparks petty war of words

Draymond Green has been known to have a hot-headed career, with flagrant fouls and beef galore. The latest in this edition of controversy is with 11-year NBA veteran Austin Rivers.

The two started with history as players who were drafted to the NBA in the same class. They played against one another for over a decade. Now, with Rivers in the media and Green still on the court, the fire has been ferocious. 

Green began by discussing how Steve Kerr hindered his career on his podcast. Rivers was later asked about these comments in the media, and from there, the back-and-forth between the two is in full swing. From personal insults to family members being invoked, both guys are pulling no punches. 

Here's what to know about the timeline of beef between Green and Rivers

MORE: Timeline of Draymond Green-Rudy Gobert beef

Draymond Green-Austin Rivers beef, explained

Green knees Rivers in the chest

In a 2021 preseason game, when both players were still in the NBA, Green received a flagrant 1 foul for kneeing Rivers in the chest while attempting to block a shot. This sent Rivers tumbling to the ground. 

This was the only public point of beef while both were active players. In recent days, their beef has ramped up with Green still in the league and Rivers now retired. 

Green claims that Steve Kerr "hindered" his career

On a late April, 2006 episode of his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, Green the following about head coach Steve Kerr. 

"As much as he's done for me in basketball, a part of me think he's hindered me in my career and what I could've become. When KD came from 2016 on, I have not had a play in our playbook." 

MORE: Draymond Green's potential retirement timeline, explained

Rivers defends Steve Kerr on the Dan Patrick Show, calls Green "ridiculous" 

When Rivers was a guest on Patrick's program, Patrick played the clip for Rivers and asked for his thoughts. Rivers called it "ridiculous."

When asked about how to feature Green in a specific play, Rivers responded "feature him doing what?" This slight at Green's skillset was taken personally by Green.

Rivers went on to defend Steve Kerr in this ordeal, explaining that Draymond "was left open 80% of the time" and was "never a scorer." 

Green calls out Rivers' career and contract

In Green's response to Rivers, he centers his insults around two main points. 

The first is Austin's basketball career, where Green explains that Rivers is on his "second act," a nod to the fact that Rivers is now an analyst, rather than a player. When Rivers claimed that Green was not a scorer, Green responded with the following. 

"Austin, you and I averaged the same amount of points in high school and I say high school cause that's when you were at your best." 

The second aspect of Green's verbal attack was the contract that Rivers received to play with the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2015, Rivers was traded to the Clippers where his father, Doc Rivers, was the head coach. That offseason, Rivers signed a three-year, $35 million dollar deal to stay with the Clippers. 

Green accused him of nepotism, saying that the contract was "the biggest bailout in US history prior to President Trump bailing out the airlines." 

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) May 4, 2026

MORE: Five best candidates to replace Doc Rivers as Bucks' head coach

Rivers criticizes Draymond's accusations and lucky career 

In the most recent response of this back-and-forth, Rivers ripped Green apart. He centered a three-minute video around three main points, calling Green "disrespectful" and explaining that he was being complimentary in his appearance on The Dan Patrick Show.

First, he set the record straight about each of the stops in their basketball careers. Rivers claims that he performed at a higher level in high school, a reason why he won the Naismith Award. He also acknowledges that Green was the better NBA player, but that he couldn't compare the two in college because Rivers only spent one season at Duke, while Green spent four years at Michigan State. 

Secondly, Rivers addressed the bailout comments, saying that Draymond Green "the luckiest basketball player I think I've ever seen." He goes on to cite the incredible talent and coaching that Green was surrounded by. 

He finishes this rant by telling Green that Steve Kerr did not hinder his career, he made it. 

Austin rivers smoked it here. Said nothing but facts about draymond pic.twitter.com/sudsMkzLvk

— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) May 5, 2026