Goes again to…DRAYMOND GREEN! Draymond, take a bow.
Draymond wins agayne for this asshole move last night:
That resulted in Draymond’s third ejection of the season, his 18th in his asshole career, league leader among current NBA players, and will result in his second suspension of the year and fifth all-time after he was given a five-game timeout for choking Rudy Gobert.
San Jose Mercury-News:
Five, 10, 15, or 20 games — no matter how long Draymond Green’s upcoming suspension is, it’ll be justified.
For the second time in less than a month, Green was ejected for on-court pugilism Tuesday.
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He wasn’t coming to the aid of his teammate. He wasn’t countering another dirty play.
Green’s spinning hook punch was dumb, churlish, and exceptionally unnecessary. It was a cheap shot — indefensible, even for those like me who have gone to bat for Green time and time again.
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It’s all so ridiculous, we’re only left to wonder if something larger is at play.
Does Green even want to be out on the floor?
Interesting question
…
… looking back on Green’s 40-minute mea culpa to the media following the punch of teammate Jordan Poole last October, so much of it now rings hollow.
“Hurt people hurt people,” Green said in October of 2022. “I am a very flawed human being… I personally know those flaws better than anyone. The work that I’ve done to correct those flaws has been tremendous, and yet there’s still a very long way to go. That’s a constant work in progress. I’m a constant work in process.”
Green was hurt because he saw Poole replacing him as the third wheel on the “Warriors” championship machine. So he hurt Poole, ruined his career, and got him traded out of town. Green was hurt that Steph Curry recruited Kevin Durant to be the third wheel so he told Durant he was not wanted and Durant left.
Where’s the progress? All we’ve seen are more outbursts. Each sadder than the last.
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There’s no question that Green has lost a step (or two), but projecting that insecurity into these outbursts aids no one.
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… How can you imagine a winning future when this is the Green that’s along for the ride?
I have defended Green time and time again…
… Green was…a basketball savant and one of the greatest defenders ever. The benefit of Green outweighed the detriment for years. Four banners in the Chase Center rafters can attest to that.
That’s what it comes down to for the enablers, this writer, head coach Steve Kerr, Golden State management. Kicking LeBron James in the crotch during the Finals is benefit…if you get away with it. If not, as Green did not, and your team loses the game and the championship, you're a detriment. Asshole behavior isn't the issue, only benefits (wins) and detriments (losses) to being an asshole.
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Said last night’s victim, Jusuf Nurkic,
“What's going on with him? I don't know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I'm glad he didn't try to choke me. At the same time, it ain't nothing to do with basketball."
Nah, he doesn’t need help, Jusuf, he’s just an asshole.
