Draymond Green doesn’t need invitations to stir up controversy, and this time, his target wasn’t someone on the court, but under center. During a segment on his Why is Draymond Green Talking About Football podcast, the Golden State Warriors star took a shot at Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, making both fan bases erupt and quickly going viral.

Green flatly stated to his co-host, “Dak’s a bum… When the money’s on the line, when it’s for all the marbles, who are you? He a bum.” He then clarified his stance, explaining that he wasn’t calling Prescott untalented. “Of course he’s a good NFL quarterback,” he said before pointing to Prescott routinely failing with pressure on him. “When you’re making $65 million, it’s way harder to win. You gotta be like Patty Mahomes good.”

His argument was clear: Dak can rack up stats, but when it matters, he ends up passive. It was the kind of take that would usually make Stephen A. Smith grin from ear to ear.

However, Smith took a surprising stance, defending Prescott from Draymond’s insult. On the Stephen A. Smith show, he responded to Green’s comments: “I thought ‘bum’ was a bit too excessive. Dak Prescott is not a bum. Dak Prescott is a big-time quarterback in the National Football League.”

It was an uncharacteristically restrained response from the man who’s built a reputation as a gleeful troll of Dallas’ football woes.

Smith then pivoted to why the Warriors forward has a right to criticize Prescott, saying, “Draymond Green has a right to ask that question… He would know because Draymond Green’s teammate is the baby face assassin that is known as Steph Curry, the greatest shooter God has ever created. And that is what Draymond Green is accustomed to being around.”

For someone who’s already reached the pinnacle of success multiple times, the veteran forward now sees himself as someone with every right to speak out, especially with having the greatest example by his side at every game.

However, Smith, unsurprisingly, didn’t entirely disagree with Green, explaining, “It don’t matter what the sport is… When you’re called upon in a moment of immense pressure to respond to the challenge that is placed before you, we know who those are who answer the call and those who wilt beneath the pressure… In a moment of pressure, do you answer the call? When Michael Jordan had the ball in his hands. When LeBron was going up against Dallas.”

He’s already conveyed his disappointment with Prescott for collapsing under pressure, and given his contract and responsibilities, Dak hasn’t lived up to expectations.

So, when Smith sums up his opinion, he agrees with Green‘s wider point despite pushing back against the harsh label: “What I’m saying to you is that there are moments that define us. So when Draymond Green brings that up about a Dak Prescott, he has a point. Is it necessary to say bum? No. Is it a bit extreme? Yes.”

Dak Prescott may have all the traits of a franchise quarterback, but until he delivers an unforgettable moment for the Cowboys, this conversation isn’t going away.

The Dallas Cowboys’ Harshest Critic Turns Protector Against Draymond Green

Stephen A. Smith’s restraint says something, especially for someone who’s taken delight in the Dallas Cowboys‘ collapses, even showing up in cowboy hats and cigars to First Take. “He says the same thing every year. Same thing every year. Never reaches fruition,” he previously said, mocking Dak Prescott’s declarations of leadership.

But even Smith seemed to realize that “bum” was more a matter of ridicule than truth.

Of course, Draymond Green’s words don’t come without reason. Prescott’s playoff record still casts a shadow over his career: 2-5 in the playoffs, including a drop of nearly 35 points in his passer rating during the 2021 postseason.

His 2024 collapse against Green Bay, when the Cowboys were blown out 48-32 at home reignited questions of him being able to thrive under postseason heat.

Still, Smith defending Prescott’s dignity speaks volumes. The same man who made “How ’bout them Cowboys?” a national punchline was suddenly protecting Dallas’ quarterback from a verbal knockout.

It might be sympathy, it might be perspective, but it definitely caught all of us by surprise.