Draymond Green will miss Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Here are some of the reactions from around the league.
Few things make an NBA Finals series more interesting than villains.
Draymond Green has become everyone’s favorite villain. His postseason run has enraged every egg on Twitter and every actions comes under scrutiny. Green has turned himself into an NBA All-Star by scrapping and fighting for every loose ball and for every stop on every possession.
That intensity has come under fire during this playoff run. He picked up his fourth flagrant foul point after the NBA reviewed his incident with LeBron James in Game 4. The league determined that Green was trying to hit James in the groin after the Cavaliers superstar tried to step over him. They assessed James a technical foul and Green a flagrant foul, effectively suspending him for Game 5 with a chance to clinch his second consecutive title.
All year long, the Warriors have had to deflect the notion that they got “lucky” that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were heathy. While there hasn’t been any bad blood between the two teams, they aren’t necessarily friendly either. This has put them over the edge.
The NBA Finals just got more interesting. Here are some of the best quotes and reactions following the announcement of Green’s suspension.
Green has remained silent since the suspension.
Draymond Green's agent B.J. Armstrong: "We got no comment. It is what it is, and let's move on."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 12, 2016
Immediately after the league handed out the punishment, Green and his agent were talking to league officials about working something out where he can be in the building. By rule, a suspended player has to be out of the arena two hours before the game actually starts. He can return to any celebration.
Green will be watching the game from the Oakland Coliseum next door in a suite. The two venues are connected by a tunnel.
Andrew Bogut wasn’t particularly enthused by the decision to assess James and Green different penalties.
Bogut: "That's a double T at best. Move on."
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) June 12, 2016
Some of James’ own teammates were asked to comment about it and, of course, the quotes were fascinating.
Kevin Love on stepover moves: "You don't see it too much, but, yeah, I think it is looked at as a form of disrespect."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
J.R. Smith on Draymond Green: "He's a pretty good defender, so driving lanes should be open when we do drive the ball."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
Tristan Thompson on trash-talking "If you're going to trash talk u better back up whatever u say. If u open your mouth u better b prepared."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
It’s safe to say that James’ actions have even conflicted his teammates.
Charles Barkley, who has, for whatever reason, consistently opposed the Warriors over the years finally backed Green. The Hall of Famer has criticized Golden State for being “too soft,” citing the defending champions as proof that jump-shooting teams can’t win championships.
He defended Green saying that “when a man steps over you, you have a moral obligation to punch him in the balls.” The modern day Aristotle has spoken.
The Thompson family has completely ethered James.
Klay Thompson on LeBron & trash talk: "I'm surprised some guys take it so personal. It's a man's league. I guess his feelings got hurt."
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 12, 2016
James replied to Klay Thompson‘s comments.
LeBron James reacts to Klay Thompson saying his feelings were hurt by Draymond Green's trash-talk...#NBAFinals https://t.co/3zuvyKwYwU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 12, 2016
Klay’s dad, Mychal Thompson, also had some words for James.
Mychal Thompson: "LeBron (James) couldn't have survived in the 80s with the physicality and the words guys said to each other back then."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a controversy without Ayesha Curry throwing her name into the mix. James repeatedly noted that he was going to take the high road in this situation, raising the question “can you really take the high road if you say you’re going to?”
High Road. invisible bridge used to step over said person when open floor is available left to right.
— Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) June 12, 2016
Queen of #DubNation leads the series over King James 1-0.
The Warriors are going to have a tough time replicating what Draymond Green brings to the table, but the NBA Finals, after a dull start, just got really interesting.