Draymond Green has become a familiar face on Inside the NBA, but he has no interest in being labeled Charles Barkley’s replacement.
With Barkley maintaining that the 2026-27 season will be his final year on the show, Green has naturally been mentioned as a potential successor. But the Warriors veteran believes replacing Barkley is an impossible task.
“It’s not my place or role to say, like, yeah, that’s the seat I’m filling,” Green said in an interview with Front Office Sports. “I just don’t make that decision. You know, Charles Barkley is a legend. So to even think that you’re filling his seat, I think that’s a grave mistake. You never replace superstars in the NBA. Michael Jordan still hasn’t been replaced in Chicago some 30 years later. You don’t replace greatness. You don’t replace GOATs.”
Green has already built significant experience with the show, appearing during the playoffs, All-Star Weekend and most recently the NBA Finals.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate that Craig Barry and the entire team at formerly Turner Sports, but you know, at Turner, that they took a liking to me and they appreciate what I bring to the table, what I bring to the show,” Green said. “And they’ve had me on during playoffs, All-Star. I mean, I’m still kicking myself that I did the NBA Finals with them this past year.”
Despite those appearances, Green made it clear that trying to recreate what Barkley brings to the show would be the wrong approach.
Barkley has discussed retirement several times over the years, but he has been much firmer about his plans this time around. He recently told Bill Simmons that the upcoming season would “100 percent” be his last before again discussing his plans to step away during an interview with WSFA 12 News in Alabama.
According to Awful Announcing, Barkley said Ernie Johnson convinced him to remain with the show for two additional seasons, while Johnson’s own long-term future remains unresolved.
Green may continue to have a major role on Inside the NBA, but as far as Barkley’s chair is concerned, he isn’t interested in pretending anyone can simply take it over.
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