The NBA’s treatment of the Dillon Brooks situation is a cold reminder for Warriors fans that Draymond Green got a short stick this postseason.
The NBA royally screwed up in regards to its suspension of Draymond Green for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
I, for one, thought Green’s actions in Game 2 — he stepped and arguably stomped on Domantas Sabonis’s torso — were worth a suspension. The NBA’s decision was, unfortunately, unjust. They admitted in their press release that Green’s past actions influenced their decision to suspend him, an incredibly unbalanced decision considering they considered information not germane to the incident at hand.
Dillon Brooks was ejected from the Memphis Grizzlies contest against the Lakers for a flagrant 2 foul on Saturday night similar to Green. He made contact with LeBron James’s midsection which led to the penalty.
The next day, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Brooks would not receive further punishment for the incident.
Dillon Brooks lack of punishment is stark contrast from Draymond Green’s
While this ruling is perhaps in and of itself fair and just, comparing it to the Green suspension, it’s a reminder of how badly the league screwed up just days ago. Green carries a reputation the size of a duffel bag with him, that much is true, but Brooks has generated a similar reputation as an aggressor and at times even a dirty player.
He fits in a similar category as Green. Yet, for whatever reason, his “history” wasn’t considered for his ruling, just for Green’s.
In the end, the Warriors won their game against the Kings without Green, but the ramifications could go deeper. Without Green, Steve Kerr had to play others for long stretches, including players like Jordan Poole who is playing on a sprained ankle. That wear and tear could end up being the difference in this series.
Hopefully, this ends up being a lesson for the league. Suspend based on relevant information only. They got it right with Brooks, wrong with Green.