Outside the Game, Inside the NBA

Draymond Green Signs His Biggest Deal Yet

TNT

Draymond Green has been a polarising name in NBA debates across the continent. Some will argue that he’s overrated, others (myself included) will point to all the ways he adds value to the court and helps the splash brothers do their thing on the offensive side of the court. Regardless of how you feel about Draymond Green, he is undoubtedly a Swiss Army knife for the Golden State Warriors, and a big part of their small-ball revolution. The 3x NBA Champion continues to add to his resume, this time off the court. Green has reached an agreement with Turner Sports to be an analyst for TNT’s Inside the NBA, and be part of other NBA related content for the network.

Draymond is not new to the television world, as he has made multiple appearances on Inside the NBA alongside Shaq, Charles, Ernie, and Kenny. Additionally, he has his own interview series titled Chips on the Bleacher Report (which was acquired by Turner Sports in 2012). This series puts Draymond in the interviewer’s seat as he holds conversations with NBA stars - headlined by an episode featuring Kevin Durant discussing his fallout with Draymond’s Golden State Warriors.

This multi-year deal between Green and Turner Sports is one of the first of its kind - when have we seen an athlete regularly make analyst appearances while still actively playing? The Golden State Warriors are contending for a high playoff seed (and an NBA championship) this season, and Draymond is slated to work part-time on TV? Talk about a dream come true.

Sports fans are no stranger to athletes taking on TV roles post-retirement: the Manning brothers on the Manningcast, Shaq, Charles, and Kenny on Inside the NBA, and even Paul ‘Biznasty’ Bissonnette on TNT’s NHL broadcasts. But not many active players come to mind - minus this appearance on Sportsnet by PK Subban.

The Draymond deal should be exciting news for fans, marketers, professionals, and most importantly, the athletes. Draymond Green’s personality on TV combined with his expert knowledge of the game, helping to break down plays and strategies to a national audience has primed him for a television role. He’s most definitely set himself up for a full-time TV gig once he decides to call it a career in the NBA.

For current athletes, this deal demonstrates the importance of branding and content - two important words that we use every hour at white whale mktg. Not every athlete may want a TV deal and be in the spotlight, and that’s completely fine. Working on your brand can be done behind the scenes as well, and it is equally important to open yourself up to opportunities you may not know exist. Many athletes consider coaching or management to be an option post-retirement, staying close to the sport that they eat, sleep, and breathe. However, we can see from many examples beyond Draymond that you can take your knowledge of the game and apply it to content (without changing who you are). Take a look at what Kurt Warner is doing on YouTube, breaking down NFL games and players for a community of 36k+ subscribers.

For athletes looking to create their own content, look around and you’ll find opportunities everywhere. Whether TV is the dream or not, Draymond’s deal is just another proof that the sky is never the limit - it is only the beginning.

Published: January 28, 2022 - Issue 24 of The Sport Marketeer