The start of the 2023 season appeared promising for the Golden State Warriors. But they have been facing a series of setbacks, especially with their key player, Draymond Green. While injuries and poor losses have plagued the team, Green has been in the headlines for what can be perceived as “dirty play.”
After a five-game suspension for an altercation with Rudy Gobert where Green was accused of choking him, it seemed the Warriors’ fiery forward had learned a valuable lesson. However, recent disputes with NBA officials have reignited the controversy surrounding Green.
Draymond Green gets into trouble with refs after return
Golden State Warriors’ power forward, Draymond Green, has landed himself in hot water once again. After serving a five-game suspension for his previous altercation with Rudy Gobert, Green found himself in another heated dispute, this time with NBA officials.
The incident occurred during a game against the Sacramento Kings, where Green was charged with a defensive foul and stared down official J.T. Orr. Tensions ran high and physicality escalated.
Warriors’ have had problems with players’ decency this season. Shooting guard Klay Thompson, who faced a similar tussle a few games before with Timberwolves’ forward Jaden McDaniels, where both were initially entangled while fiercely tugging at each other’s jerseys, also faced a few fines However, matters took a dangerous turn when Gobert intervened, wrapping his arms around Thompson’s neck.
In response to Green’s overzealous actions that game against the Timberwolves, the NBA suspended him for five games without pay. The suspension commenced on Thursday, November 16, when the Warriors faced the Oklahoma City Thunder at home, which the Warriors again lost by total domination. Green is not alone in facing consequences. Thompson, McDaniels, and Gobert were each fined $25,000 for their involvement in that altercation.
As one of the Warriors’ key players, Green’s absence has undoubtedly been felt on the court after a series of losses and has been the scapegoat to be blamed, with even commentators feeling the need for more than just an apology from the Power Forward’s decency.
Kenny Smith backs Draymond Green’s reluctance to apologize
In a recent interview, Kenny Smith voiced his support for Draymond Green’s refusal to apologize for his controversial actions on the court. According to Smith, there comes a point in an athlete’s career where constant apologies should no longer be necessary, especially for a seasoned player and champion like Green.
“There is no more apologizing… At 22, 23, or 24 years old, you can keep apologizing. But at this stage of his career, and a champion, we should be out of the apology stages of his career” voiced Kenny Smith on Draymond Green.
Green’s suspension came after an incident involving Rudy Gobert, where he was reprimanded for putting the Jazz player in a chokehold during a game. Surprisingly, Green displayed no remorse for his actions. In fact, he stated that he would do it again if it meant defending a teammate.
“I don’t live my life with regrets. I’ll come to a teammate’s defense any time that I’m in a position to come to a teammate’s defense.” Green said
In response to critics who expected Green to express regret, he stood by his principles and emphasized that what matters most to him is the well-being and support of his loved ones. Clearly, Green’s mindset reflected his determination to protect and defend those he cared about, even if it meant crossing the line.
However, Green’s unapologetic attitude hasn’t come without consequences. In a recent game against the Kings, which they lost by 124-123, Green found himself involved in another altercation, further adding fuel to the fire. Kenny Smith believes that Draymond Green needs to do more than just apologize for his actions, indicating that it’s time for him to reassess his approach to the game.
As the Warriors have faced a series of losses, the hope is that the team can resolve these issues internally and move forward with a positive outcome as soon as possible.
