Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr has come out in support of Draymond Green after the forward was suspended for stomping on Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis during Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Kerr stated that the team accepts Green for who he is and that they would go to battle with him every day of the week.
Kerr added that Green had addressed the team after his suspension, and everyone had moved on. The Warriors will have to make do without Green for Game 3 of the series, which is set to take place on Thursday.
The NBA’s executive vice president, Joe Dumars, explained the decision to suspend Green, citing his actions as being detrimental to the sport. This is not the first time Green has been suspended for on-court actions, with his most notable suspension coming during the 2016 NBA Finals when he hit LeBron James in the groin.
Kerr on Draymond: “I’ve said many times we don’t have a single championship without Draymond Green. That’s the truth. He’s crossed the line over the years, and that’s part of it, you know. We will go to bat for Draymond, and go to battle with him every day of the week.”
Despite Green’s occasional on-court missteps, he remains a crucial part of the Warriors’ dynasty and is considered by many to be one of the best defensive players in the league. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Green now has 163 career technical fouls, 17 ejections, and four suspensions, including two in the playoffs.
Green’s suspension will be a blow to the Warriors, who are already struggling to find their form in the playoffs. They lost Game 2 against the Kings and will need to regroup quickly if they hope to make a deep run in this year’s playoffs.
Warriors won Game 3 without Green, but Kerr and his team are confident that they have what it takes to overcome this latest setback. They will need to remain focused and disciplined if they hope to come out on top in what promises to be a hard-fought series.
Draymond Green Suspension: A Setback for the Warriors or a Wake-Up Call for the Team?
Steph Curry didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room after the Golden State Warriors’ convincing Game 3 win against the Sacramento Kings in their 2023 NBA playoffs first-round series. Despite missing Draymond Green, who was suspended for stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest in the previous game, the Warriors dominated the Kings with a 114-97 victory.
Curry acknowledged the adversity the team faced and the noise surrounding the series, stating that they couldn’t do anything about the suspension decision they believed was wrong. He also mentioned that the league’s consideration of Green’s history of dirty plays and unsportsmanlike conduct was a factor in his suspension.
“It’s a lot of distractions and noise around this series and losing both games up there was a tough way to start, and you wanted to come home with some good focus. Then you get that call, and he [Draymond] gets suspended.”It’s a tough blow… understanding we couldn’t do anything about the decision that we knew was wrong… We did what we were supposed to do. They say Draymond’s got a history, so do we, so we know how to bounce back.”- curry said.
While Green’s absence was undoubtedly felt, Kevon Looney stepped up and took on his role, grabbing an impressive 20 rebounds and dishing out nine assists. He had nine offensive boards, offering the Warriors the extra possessions they needed on some of their miscues.
Green’s suspension was a blow to the Warriors, but the team didn’t let it affect their focus. The Warriors have a history of battling through adversity and coming out on top, and this game was no exception.
Despite Green’s history of questionable on-court behavior, the team has accepted him for who he is and will continue to go to battle with him every day of the week, as stated by head coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors’ championship pedigree was on full display in Game 3, and they will look to build on this momentum as they aim to even the series in the next game.
Draymond shall return for game 4 against the Kings at the Chase center.
