How Barkley caught Draymond by surprise, ending multiyear beef

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If you were to tune in to any NBA on TNT broadcast featuring Warriors' star Draymond Green, you probably wouldn't have been able to notice that there used to be a feud between him and Hall of Famer and fellow commentator Charles Barkley. 

Draymond has appeared as a guest host on the broadcast numerous times over the years and officially signed a multi-year deal as an analyst for the network earlier this year. 

Prior to initially working with Barkley on TNT's "The Arena" in the summer of 2020, the two had butt heads numerous times over the years, notoriously after Barkley jokingly said he wanted to punch Green in the face after watching his antics in one of the Warriors games. 

Barkley joined Draymond on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, where the Warriors' forward told a story about the first time that the two came face-to-face after Barkley's comments. 

"I was coming on there, we had been talking back and forth in the media, you said you were going to punch me in my face, I said I was going to take your job, it went on for years," Green said. "The moment I walked onto that set, you got out of your seat (and said) 'what's up Draymond, how you doing?' 

"I'll be 100 percent honest with you, I was walking up there like whatever happened happened if he says something to me, wants to punch me, I'm ready to go there. And you disarmed me so fast, like 'what's up man how you doing, it's great to see you, welcome.' I'm just sitting there like ... what the hell."

Barkley, who played against some of the most outspoken players in NBA history, compared Draymond to one of the game's most notorious personalities. 

"You know what's really funny," Barkley said. "You remind me a lot of Dennis Rodman. Like, I want to play with you but you'd be annoying to play against. I saw Dennis at the (NBA 75th Anniversary Team) thing and we hugged each other like brothers. He's somebody that I really like a lot and respect. You're the same way. It would be annoying to play against you, because, number one, I don't think you've ever committed a foul ... that makes me laugh every time."

Barkley further explained his previous comments about Green, explaining why he joked about punching him.

"Some people don't realize, at one or two o'clock in the morning sometimes you're like this dude is driving me crazy tonight," Barkley added. "He's arguing with the refs all night and then Shaq said 'what do you want to do?' and I said 'I just want to punch him in the face.' And what pissed me off about that night, to be honest with you, I was joking around and then a reporter asked you that and then ... when I heard him ask you that question I thought 'oh man this dude is going to think I'm serious about punching him.' I'm not ever going to punch an NBA player because we're all in the same family."

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The two stars -- now friends and co-workers -- have since developed a great relationship and create for highly entertaining commentary on TNT. 

With Draymond progressing in his rehab from a disc/back injury that has sidelined him for almost two months, we might not see many more appearances from him on the broadcast this season if he returns soon and helps lead the Warriors deep into the playoffs. 

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