Luke Kornet, on his personal blog, strongly condemned the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City Night collaboration, which received widespread support online. Golden State Warriors veteran Al Horford, who formerly represented the Hawks, also agreed with him. Kornet was worried that this event would portray the NBA as complicit in the objectification and mistreatment of women. However, Dubs star Draymond Green is not siding with either of them, raising the bigger picture before pointing to an important link to Cardi B.

“I object to what Luke Kornet is saying,” Green said on the Draymond Green Show. “I think to point out that they have esteem issues because that’s the line of work they chose, I actually think is less protective of women because you’re condemning something, it’s actually an art. I don’t know if you’ve ever been, but if you see it in action, it’s actually a form of art that some choose to indulge in, and some choose not to indulge in.”

“But to say that because a woman decides that’s the art that they want to partake in and that the customer wants to take in, I think, is reflective on society’s thoughts and how they once viewed things, but I don’t necessarily think it’s a hit on the esteem of women,” Green continued. “I think that’s actually a negative vantage point on these women that are in this line of work, that because they choose this line of work, that they have esteem issues.”

The Warriors veteran also cited Cardi B and her line of work as an example. The Kodak Black artist was a stripper during her late teens as she sought a way to financially support herself. She has revealed in the past that she used the money to escape an abusive relationship by paying her own fees at university. What started as an embarrassment for her slowly turned into a short-term plan. Cardi B wanted to save enough by 25 to buy a house and rent it out.

While she eventually quit the line of work at 23, the rapper often says she’s still made to feel ashamed of her life choice to date. Her story is something Green cited as an example to support the artform, not just to make a point.

“Might I mention that Cardi B is currently on a world tour, selling out stadiums,” Green said. “Her background would be that. I don’t think Cardi B has esteem issues.”

Green clarified that, even though he disagreed with what Kornet was saying, he respected that Kornet shared his point of view.

The San Antonio Spurs star had called out the Hawks on Monday, asking them to stop the plan to honor an establishment that brands itself as a strip club during their game against the Orlando Magic on March 16. Contrary to what the strip club is primarily known for, “Magic City Monday” has been branded as a celebration of Atlanta and its culture.

Horford, who played for the Hawks from 2007 to 2016, opined the same. The NBA champion would retweet the post with a three-word caption.

“Well said Luke,” Horford wrote.

This further sparked debate over whether it is an appropriate gesture from the league and the Hawks to promote Magic City. But has the online controversy stopped the franchise?

Luke Kornet’s message appears to go unheard

The Spurs star put the league and commissioner Adam Silver, by extension, on notice with his message. Kornet urged the NBA to try its best to “protect and esteem women.” But the Hawks’ principal owner, filmmaker and actor Jami Gertz, has a different view of the event.

“The iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture,” Gertz said in an official statement.

In fact, as per TMZ, they haven’t had a single conversation about scrapping the plans. USA Today also confirmed that a Hawks spokesperson declined to comment on Kornet’s statement.

The Hawks have already sold hoodies and T-shirts for the promotional night. Reportedly, the tickets were selling out faster, despite the controversy.

Gertz also produced the docuseries “Magic City: An American Fantasy,” alongside GRAMMY Award-winning music mogul and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri last year. This series focused on and shared the cultural impact and influence of the landmark and its pivotal role in hip-hop culture. With the promotion of Magic City Monday, the Hawks are trying to send a similar message, but with a much more focused and dialed-in set of viewers this time.