Warriors’ parade was just 1.5 miles, but Draymond Green’s mouth ran a whole marathon

The highlight of the Warriors’ third championship parade in the last four years was ... well, there were many highlights. JaVale McGee and Nick Young shared a float and lost their shirts and inhibitions, Jordan Bell crowdsourced Henny, Kevin Durant was Jim Halperting all attempts at jokes by Warriors officials about ... well everything, and Draymond Green had a mood going and hot mics everywhere. That makes for a good day.

Green’s most notable comments come in regards to one Tristan Thompson, of whom Draymond said: “We just cut from a different cloth. It’s a lot of guys in this league, they soft, we just cut from a different cloth ... After the game, he tried to shake my hand, I said ‘Tristan, we ain’t cut the same.’”

Sheesh!

He’s right, though: a lot of guys in this league aren’t cut from whatever cloth gets them on a team starring two MVPs in their prime. That takes real toughness, to be drafted by a franchise with Steph Curry and the ability to sign Kevin Durant. Other guys just aren’t cut like that.

(All this snark obscures the fact that I cackle as madly as anyone when Green runs his boca. Never stop, Draymond. You make covering this sport so much more interesting. Y’all see that T-shirt, right?)

We’re not doing this

Kobe Bryant is trying to restart a long settled Kobe vs. LeBron debate in media interviews and on Twitter. Resist. This is a settled matter. I believe the United Nations has even issued a resolution on this topic. Resist joining in, even to defend the obvious truth that LeBron was and is a far superior basketball player to Kobe. He wants you to engage. That’s what this is all about. If Kobe is in the conversation, that necessarily elevates him into a higher tier of player than he actually belongs in.

Do not give Kobe Bryant the pleasure of pretending there exists any sort of case that he is in any way, shape, or form on LeBron’s level in a historic sense. Resist.

Links Galore

The Raptors have hired Nick Nurse as their new head coach. Nurse was an assistant under Dwane Casey in Toronto. Now Casey and Nurse can battle over the rest of the Raptors’ assistants!

Kristian Winfield on why the Cavaliers must ignore the LeBron James decision to come when making the No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft.

The parade is a reminder that the clock is ticking on Oakland as an NBA city.

Zach Lowe on what Durant wants. Lee Jenkins on how Durant got here.

How likely is LeBron to join the Spurs?

Interesting nuggets in this very interesting Chris Haynes piece on Draymond Green: the all-star doesn’t expect to take a paycut next summer when his contract is up. If he wins Defensive Player of the Year, he could be due a supermax.

What legacy will Bryan Colangelo ultimately leave behind in Philadelphia?

Will the best player go No. 1 in the NBA Draft?

Keith Schlosser examines the wrongful death lawsuit against the NBA and others related to Zeke Upshaw’s tragic death while playing with the G League’s Grand Rapids Drive.

How much of the Timberwolves’ potential improvement is tied to Karl-Anthony Towns’ defense?

Wichita State’s Landry Shamet opens up about the draft preparation process.

A prank war between Lakers rookies has resulted in Lonzo Ball actually publishing a diss track called “Kylie Kuzma,” which is misogynist as heck from the jump, to the point that I’m not even going to listen to it.

Speaking of the Lakers, Josh Hart was stopped at an E3 Fortnite event with ... Paul George.

And finally: Kevin Durant is now 2-1 against LeBron in the NBA Finals, but he’s 0-2 against champagne bottles in championship parades.

Be excellent to each other.