Much to Draymond Green’s discredit, the Warriors star has created a negative aura around him. From getting into physical altercations to getting ejected for foul-mouthed comments, the 34-year-old’s on-court antics have made him a villainous figure in the league.
With the Warriors hopes for the post-season hanging on the balance, they needed to rally their troops in the same direction. Understanding the assignment, Draymond Green showed up against the in-form Mavs and grabbed the headlines again but for not what almost everyone anticipated.
Draymond Green comes clutch to snap Mavs win streak
The Warriors secured their 5th straight win on Tuesday evening at the Dallas Mavericks’ arena with Draymond Green displaying his masterclass potential.
After being in the news mostly for his on-court antics, Green showed the NBA enthusiasts his worth on the defensive side of the game. The former DPOY winner gave his all till the final minutes of the game to snatch a 104-100 win. With the game coming to its end, Green scored two layups, giving Golden State the lead over the Dallas franchise.
Showing his defensive expertise, Dray blocked Mavs’ Daniel Gafford’s last moment shot and passed it to teammate Klay Thompson to keep the ball in play. Green gave a strong message by stepping up in the crunch time when his team needed a win.
Green chipped in 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and one block while accurately shooting the free throws. As much as the forward contributed on defense, his teammate Andrew Wiggins helped with the offense by scoring 23 points. Despite scoring a game-high 30 points, Luka Doncic couldn’t extend the Mavs’ winning streak to eight games.
The 34-year-old has constantly faced brutal criticism this season for his altercations on the court which ended up disappointing the Warriors’ leader Stephen Curry. Tonight, he not only put a stop to those criticisms, but also reached a franchise milestone to boast about.
Draymond Green reaches Warriors milestone against Mavs
Apart from stealing the show with his outstanding performance, Draymond Green etched his name on the Golden State’s history books with his appearance in Tuesday night’s game.
The 4-time All-Star marked his 808th game in the Warriors’ jersey, surpassing NBA great Chris Mullin who held the second position on the franchise’s most played list. Sitting at the top of the list is Dray’s teammate and GSW’s loyal Stephen Curry with 950 appearances.
Green made his historic appearance all the more special with his phenomenal performance, which forced his teammates and coach to shower him with praise.
With the regular season coming to a close soon, the veteran hopefully realized his value to the team for the vital moments ahead.
