The Golden State Warriors and Draymond Green have had a rough start to the 2023 season, marking their worst record (10-14) since the 2019-20 campaign. Unfortunately for the team, their challenges have only intensified as they now have to navigate the court without Green.
The star player has been suspended indefinitely due to his uncontrollable actions, specifically for striking Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a recent game. As news of the suspension spread, NBA fans couldn’t help but mock the situation, particularly with former Lakers star Metta Sandiford-Artest offering to advise Green, in a rather rigorous manner.
Metta Sandiford-Artest wants to help Draymond Green
Metta Sandiford-Artest, the retired ex-NBA All-Star and formerly known as Ron Artest, wants to extend a helping hand to troubled Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green. Green’s recent suspension from the NBA has raised concerns about his future, and Sandiford-Artest has spoken out about his willingness to guide the veteran forward through these challenging times.
In an interview with TMZ Sports, Metta Sandiford-Artest expressed his hope of reaching out to Green and having a meaningful conversation. “I hope I’m able to reach out to him. I hope he’s able to reach out to me and chat a little bit. He’s a winner, I don’t want to see him tarnished” said Sandiford-Artest.
Recognizing Green’s talent and his winning mentality, Sandiford-Artest wants to prevent him from tarnishing his career and while drawing parallels between them, Sandiford-Artest understands Green’s journey all too well. Both players were known for their defensive prowess and occasionally struggled with controlling their emotions on the court.
While Metta Sandiford-Artest faced his fair share of suspensions during his career, including the infamous “Malice at the Palace” brawl in 2004 with a few ‘controversial’ approaches, he eventually matured as a player and went on to win an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, enjoying an illustrious 19-season career. Now, as an elder statesman of sorts, he feels a responsibility to guide younger players like Green toward a more successful and mature path.
At 33 years old and in his 12th NBA season, Green’s failure to mature is raising concerns among the previous generation and his peers in the league, and while Sandiford-Artest’s offer to mentor him has served as a testament to the desire to see Green fulfill his potential, fans have done their digging on the internet, now trolling the pair.
NBA fans mock Metta Sandiford-Artest
NBA fans were quick to mock former Lakers star Metta Sandiford-Artest after he offered to give advice to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green following his recent suspension. Sandiford-Artest famously won an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010; however, his legacy has been overshadowed by his name changes and his involvement in the infamous “Malice at The Palace” incident in 2004.
NBA fans online have been merciless in their mocking of Sandiford-Artest’s offer to mentor Green, given his own history as a rough and controversial player.
During “Malice at The Palace,” Sandiford-Artest entered the crowd and punched a fan, resulting in an 86-game suspension, the longest in NBA history, and now is offering guidance to Green, who has been dealing with a series of violent outbursts.
Green recently received an indefinite suspension for punching another player during a game, and he has faced previous suspensions for actions such as putting an opponent in a chokehold and sucker-punching a teammate.
While the Golden State Warriors are facing mounting issues with Green, whether it is the responsibility of coach Steve Kerr or a need for external intervention, some actions need to be taken. And while the suggestion of seeking advice from Sandiford-Artest, controversial though it is, has highlighted the urgent requirement for addressing Green’s behavior and finding the help he needs to grow as a player; Warriors fans may have a long season ahead.
