“We’re going to have you back in once the playoffs start”: Charles Barkley brutally drops dimes, trolls Draymond Green, Warriors

Draymond Green and Charles Barkley haven’t had much time to spend on Inside the NBA. While the Hall of Famer is a staple in the iconic show, Green has barely appeared with the award-winning hosts. Green’s commitment to the Golden State Warriors has him on limited duty alongside Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.

Ahead of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate, Green appeared on the show on Wednesday for a brief exchange. Barkley greeted the four-time champ before saying:

“We’re going to have you back in once the playoffs start.”

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Charles Barkley's remark earned the laughter of his co-hosts. Green, who seemed too shock to say anything, could only spread his arms in disbelief.

As he often does, Draymond Green joined Inside the NBA after the 2025 playoffs. Green didn’t show up until late April following the Dubs’ second-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Like last season, the Warriors could be headed to another play-in stint, a reason why Charles Barkley joked about Green’s availability. The Dubs beat the Dallas Mavericks 126-116 on Christmas Day, but they are barely afloat with a 16-15 record. They remain No. 8 in the brutal Western Conference, three games behind the Houston Rockets (17-10) for a guaranteed playoff spot.

Where the Warriors stand after the regular season doesn’t seem to concern Green and his teammates. They look content to make it to the postseason regardless of the route. Once there, they feel confident about their chances.

---

Draymond Green returns to start two days after viral spat with coach Steve Kerr

The interview with Charles Barkley and the Inside the NBA hosts happened after a viral spat between Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr. Green and Kerr had a heated argument early in the third quarter against the Orlando Magic on Monday. The former All-Star left the team’s huddle to go to the locker room to cool off.

Green showed up in the fourth quarter in street clothes to support his teammates, who beat the Magic 120-97. ESPN reported on Wednesday that both apologized to each other for an incident that created a social media storm.

Draymond Green returned to the starting lineup on Thursday to help the Dubs beat the Dallas Mavericks 126-116.

Edited by Michael Macasero