Draymond Green won’t dress down an upcoming promotion celebrating a popular Atlanta-based strip club.
The Warriors star pushed back on criticism of the Hawks’ planned March 16 “Magic City Night,” a tribute to the Atlanta “cultural institution,” which will feature rapper T.I., themed merchandise and the joint’s famous lemon pepper wings.
Spurs center Luke Kornet blasted the promotion in a lengthy Medium post, calling it disrespectful to women while urging the Hawks to hold a “higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting.”
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet wrote in his letter. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.”
Green’s Golden State teammate Al Horford supported Kornet’s message, replying “Well said Luke,” in an X post.
The outspoken Green shot back at Kornet during Wednesday’s edition of “The Draymond Green Show,” insisting that the famous nightlife staple symbolizes “art.”
“I object to what Luke Kornet said,” Green said. “I think to point out that they have esteem issues because that’s the line of work [the dancers] chose, I actually think is less protective of women because you’re condemning something that’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 that’s an art they want to partake it and the customer wants to take in…I think it’s reflective on society’s thoughts on how they once viewed things.”
The four-time NBA champion took his commentary a step further, mentioning rapper Cardi B and her history as a stripper before reaching worldwide fame.
“Might I mention that Cardi B is currently on a world tour selling out stadiums…and her background would be that,” Green added. “I don’t think Cardi B has esteem issues. So, 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.”
Despite the backlash, a Hawks spokesperson confirmed to The Post that the event will be held as scheduled.
Additionally, Magic City manager JuJu Barney attempted to alleviate any concerns about the promotional evening taking an X-rated turn.
“There will be no nudity whatsoever, at all,” Barney told TMZ.
“There will be no signs of nudity, there will be no nudity at all. It’s strictly just wings and music and people having a good time.”
