Draymond Green claps back at Amen Thompson critics after $208 million contract extension

The Houston Rockets made a move this past week to keep one of their top rising young players in the fold for the foreseeable future after agreeing to a five-year, $208 million contract extension with forward Amen Thompson. His new deal brought out some doubters, however, including former NBA player Joe Johnson who bemoaned Thompson’s perceived lack of a jump shot. But Golden State Warriors vet Draymond Green came quickly to his peer’s defense.

During a recent segment of ‘The Draymond Green Show,’ the Warriors’ outspoken forward took Amen Thompson’s side, arguing that he has a strong enough body of work to justify the Rockets giving him a hefty contract extension.

“I do think number one, you get paid for what you’ve done. I think there’s always this idea of you get paid for what you’re going to become. No, no. In this league, you get paid for what you’ve done. Amen Thompson has put together a body of work that says if you want to keep me, this is going to be the going rate,” Green said.

Green did admit he understands those saying Thompson can get better, but that there isn’t enough focus on what the fourth-year forward does at an elite level to warrant the contract.

“Now, yes, he needs to improve. But on the flip side, I do get a little frustrated sometimes when people come out like, ‘Yo, this guy can just gain a jump shot.’ Like yo, jump shooting is a skill. Yes, you can work, and work to better that skill, but we’re not going to ask Steph Curry to go be Amen Thompson athletically,” Green continued.

“So if we’re not going to do that, let’s not always point to when it’s shooting for a guy, oh man, he needs to lie, yes, he do. I agree with that. But let’s also know he is elite at jumping. He’s an elite defender. Getting from point A to point B, he’s elite.

The post Draymond Green claps back at Amen Thompson critics after $208 million contract extension appeared first on ClutchPoints.