WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The NBA disciplined Draymond Green for comments he made on Inside the NBA this Friday.
On Sunday, the NBA fined Warriors forward Draymond Green $50,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering rules after making comments about Suns star Devin Booker.
Warriors star Draymond Green fined $50,000 for public comments about Suns All-Star Devin Booker and for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2020
Green appeared on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” Friday and claimed that Booker needs to get out of Phoenix because “It’s not good for him.” You can check out the full clip here.
well this just happened pic.twitter.com/ZeVyNp8Blw
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) August 7, 2020
While Booker is yet to make a playoff appearance for the Suns, this may be the year he changes that. The Suns are the only team that is still undefeated in the bubble, going 5-0 while knocking off top-end teams like the Heat, Clippers and Mavericks along the way. They sit only two games back of the eighth seed.
In that time, Booker is averaging 28 points and shooting 40% from three. He is undoubtedly the star and heartbeat of this Phoenix team.
We have seen Devin Booker turn into a superstar over the past few years. After a solid but unspectacular rookie year, he’s averaged over 22 points-per-game in every year since. In the past two seasons, he’s finished top-10 in scoring and made his first All-Star appearance this year.
Booker won’t be hitting the market any time soon.
While Green may have been fined for tampering, it’s realistically unlikely Booker will leave Phoenix in the near future. Booker signed a 5-year, $158 million maximum contract extension in 2018, which will keep him in Phoenix until 2024. The only way he’s getting out of Phoenix in the next four years is if he requests a trade.
The NBA’s tampering rules prohibit anyone employed by an NBA team to comment on contractual matters of other teams. Apparently, Green’s opinion that Phoenix isn’t the best place for Booker crosses that line.