Draymond Green-Rudy Gobert beef, explained: Warriors forward continues to take shots at Timberwolves center

If it wasn't clear by now, Warriors forward Draymond Green is not a big fan of Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.

Green, who has appeared as analyst on TNT's "Inside the NBA" and hosted his own podcasts during his NBA playing career, has used his platform to amplify his criticisms of the four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the past. Back in May 2024, Green's suggestion for Minnesota to bench Gobert in favor of reserve forward Kyle Anderson raised some eyebrows.

How did the two get to this point? As part of an extensive beef over their years in the league, both Gobert and Green have traded barbs, with things even getting physical at some points. Here's a history of the longstanding feud.

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Draymond Green-Rudy Gobert beef, explained

Gobert's tearful NBA All-Star snub

In 2019, Gobert cried after missing out on a selection to the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte.

Green used Gobert's emotional response as an opportunity to take to social media, posting: "I guess I should cry too... no Charlotte?" along with three crying emojis on X.

After Green earned a selection to the 2022 All-Star Game, he used his moment to take another shot at Gobert, making fun of the center's emotional response to the All-Star snub.

"One thing I can assure you, if I didn't make it this year I wasn't gonna cry," Green said to TNT's studio crew. "I 100 percent assure you that. It has to be Rudy, I mean, the man cried on national television when he didn't make the All-Star team, thank God he made the next three."

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'Insecurity is always loud'

On Oct. 7, 2022, a video of Green punching then-teammate Jordan Poole surfaced on social media. Gobert used it as an opportunity to clap back, taking to X to post, "Insecurity is always loud," seemingly a response to Green's antics.

Insecurity is always loud.

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) October 7, 2022

Green would respond six months later, posting the exact same message after Gobert was sent home for punching teammate Kyle Anderson in a huddle during the last day of the 2022-23 NBA regular season.

Insecurity is always loud…

— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) April 9, 2023

Green places Gobert in a chokehold

Less than two minutes into the first regular-season meeting between Green's Warriors and Gobert's Timberwolves in 2023-24, things got out of hand.

As Klay Thompson and Jalen McDaniels became entangled, the two jostled with one another, causing the incident to escalate. As Gobert got a hold of Thompson, Green rushed to his teammate's aid, putting Gobert in a headlock, which forced Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns to pry him off.

Draymond Green had Rudy Gobert in a sleeper hold pic.twitter.com/yivvAds10c

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 15, 2023

Gobert didn't hold back when asked about the situation, going as far as insinuating that Green intentionally gets ejected when Stephen Curry is inactive. He called Green's actions "clown behavior" and said he thought Green intentionally tried to get himself thrown out because Curry was out with an injury. 

“Every time Steph doesn’t play, he doesn’t want to play without his guy Steph so he does anything he can to get ejected," Gobert said, via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. 

MORE: Complete history of Draymond Green's suspensions

Green's criticism of Gobert continues in the media

With Green in the TNT studio for Minnesota's third consecutive loss to Denver in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, he made it a point to criticize Gobert, who was on the receiving end of 40 points from MVP Nikola Jokic.

"The big Frenchman is sitting on that podium, speaking his native language — 'we, we, we (oui, oui, oui) need to do this' — you, you, you need to get a stop. It ain't 'we.' Karl-Anthony Towns is actually doing a pretty good job when he's on Joker. It's you, my man, that's getting cooked."

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 15, 2024

Green was at it again on The Draymond Green Show.

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) May 17, 2024

After counting the Wolves out, Green returned to his eponymous podcast to credit them for their historic Game 7 win over the defending champs. Still, his compliments could be taken as backhanded.

"Rudy Gobert came in and played big basketball but that was after getting bullied, and KAT stepping up to that challenge and taking it on," Green said. So, was it actually a compliment? 

There's more. After Game 1 of the 2024 Western Conference Finals, Green framed his question to Mavericks star Kyrie Irving in a way that doesn't look great for Gobert.

"You and Luka seem to love Rudy Gobert in that drop coverage," Green began, causing everyone on the set to hold back laughter. "What did y'all see in the drop that y'all were able to take advantage of?"

Irving didn't exactly take the bait but Green's question coupled with his podcast comments would suggest there are more jabs at Gobert to come.