Golden State Warriors superstar Draymond Green has garnered an infamous reputation over the years for his aggressive displays on the court. His recent on-court altercation with Rudy Gobert, followed by his hit on Jusuf Nurkic has resulted in his suspension from the league indefinitely.
As the public awaited an explanation, Green broke his silence, addressing local reporters for over 20 minutes after Warriors practice at the Chase Center. The enigmatic player revealed his mindset while speaking over the incident that eventually prompted his suspension.
Draymond Green opens up about choking Rudy Gobert
The NBA community being taken aback by images of Green choking the Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert on Nov. 14. While speaking about the incident, the Warriors forward emphatically stated that he wouldn’t alter the way the situation transpired.
“When I watched it back, I said, ‘Damn, I held him much longer than I realized in that moment. But the reality is, in those moments, you don’t know what time is. You don’t have a sense of time. I had no clue. You don’t have a sense of time during these things. It’s spur of the moment. Everything’s moving, everything’s going.”
Draymond Green says he had ‘no clue’ he held Rudy Gobert that long
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 15, 2023
“When I watched it back, I said, 'Damn, I held him much longer than I realized in that moment. But the reality is, in those moments, you don't know what time is. You don't have a sense of time. I had no clue.… pic.twitter.com/8njkU5yXsj
Expressing his philosophy, Green asserted, “I don’t live my life with regrets. Like I said before, I’ll come to a teammate’s defense anytime that I’m in a position to come to a teammate’s defense. That’s what a team is.”
“You stick together through the good and the bad and I take that to heart. I take pride in being a good teammate. That’s when I step in here every single day. That’s No. 1 on my list, to be a good teammate.”
Jusuf Nurkic claims Draymond Green needs help
Following the NBA’s suspension of Draymond Green, Jusuf Nurkic responded that Draymond needs help. Smiling at the time of reflections, Nurkic confessed to be glad that Draymond didn’t try to choke him.
“I feel like that brother need(s) help. I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me. At the same time, it had nothing to do with basketball, man.”, Nurkic told reporter on Tuesday.
Nurkic told reporters after Tuesday's game: " I feel like that brother need(s) help. I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me. At the same time, it had nothing to do with basketball, man."https://t.co/D9tFK3GlMc
— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) December 13, 2023
When asked about Nurkic’s remark regarding needing help, Draymond Green responded with a nod, stating, “Respect, I still know what my intentions were. But respect. I think we all need help. I don’t think any of us are too perfect, so respect.”
Draymond Green, who is fresh off a five-game suspension and had only been back for six-games, finds himself once again in a situation where he is not only costing himself but also the entire team.
When Draymond addressed his apologies to Jusuf in the recent press conference, it was evident that he seemed to have a chip on his shoulder and didn’t really seem to acknowledge that his behavior is a problem.
Do you think that Draymond Green would change his aggressive style of play after two ejections within a month’s time? Let us know your take in the comments.
