After returning from his Game 3 suspension for stepping on Damontas Sabonis, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green gave his thoughts on the NBA’s “Draymond rules.”
The Golden State Warriors were seemingly at a disadvantage in Game 3, as they were without Draymond Green due to a one-game suspension in relation to his actions in Game 2. After stepping on Sacramento Kings forward Damontas Sabonis’ chest, the NBA gave Green a suspension and revealed that they factored his past into their decision.
Golden State hosts Sacramento for Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, and one day beforehand, Green spoke to the media about his suspension. Green spoke about the “Draymond rules” and said they made a rule before and “that s*** don’t work.” Green then spoke in the third person about how these rules enforced by the NBA won’t change him.
“Draymond won’t be moved by the Draymond rule,” Green said, h/t ESPN NBA reporter Kendra Andrews. “I’ll continue to play the game how I play the game, operate how I operate, be exactly who I am because that leads to winning. If I was losing, they wouldn’t be creating Draymond rules. As long as they create Draymond rules, that means we’re winning and that’s great … but it doesn’t change Draymond.”
Draymond Green won’t change because of the NBA’s ‘Draymond rules’
Here is what the NBA said in regards to Green’s suspension in their press release:
“Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended one game without pay for stepping on the chest of Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.“
The last time that Green was suspended in the playoffs was for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals after he hit then Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in the groin in Game 4.
In Game 2, Sabonis fell on the court and Green got tangled up with his arms, which caused the Warriors forward to stomp on his chest. That caused Sabonis to suffer a sternum contusion. Green was later ejected from the game following a review.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that Green’s actions prior his ejection also played a role in his suspension, in which he argued with Kings fans at court-side and taunted those in attendance at the Golden 1 Center.
As for Game 3, the Warriors were able to avoid an 0-3 deficit by picking up the 114-97 victory. Stephen Curry led the way for the Warriors, scoring 36 points while making 12-of-25 attempts from the field and 6-of-12 attempts from behind the three-point line.
Game 4 between the Warriors and Kings will tipoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.