Draymond Green, #23, Golden State Warriors,(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warrior was fined for tampering after talking about Devin Booker
When it comes to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, he has no problem with players taking on analyst roles during their offseason. But if there’s one thing you can’t do, it’s saying another player should leave their respective team.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green learned that lesson the hard way on Sunday morning. After serving as an in-studio candidate on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” Green discussed the strong play of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker inside the Walt Disney World bubble. In the process, Green said Booker needs to go to another team and get out of Phoenix. Not even a full 24 hours later, and Green was handed a $50,000 fine for tampering.
What was Green’s response? Well, he was quite amused, actually.
Green knew the fine was coming, so he’s not surprised
After making the Booker comments, host Ernie Johnson asked Green if he was tampering, to which he replied, “maybe.”
In all fairness, we’ve been hearing for years from a variety of basketball pundits on how Booker needs to leave the Suns. This past month, Mark Berman of the New York Post suggested that the New York Knicks could make a push to acquire Booker from the Suns, considering the team’s president is Booker’s agent, Leon Rose.
The “Get Booker out of Phoenix” talk isn’t new. It’s an annual tradition! But it’s different once a player or executive discusses the potential exit of Booker. Just ask Magic Johnson, who was handed a substantial fine after talking about Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo while working for the Lakers.
Booker’s stock is at an all-time high, as the Suns are a perfect 5-0 and have pulled just 0.5 games back of the ninth seed in the Western Conference and are inching closer to participating in a play-in game for the final playoff spot. While inside the bubble, Booker has averaged 29.4 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 50% from the field.
Even though Green learned not to tamper, it’s safe to say he’s not losing any sleep over a $50,000 reduction in his savings. Must be nice.