In his first public comments since putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said he has no regrets about what he did.
“I don’t live my life with regrets,” Green said. “I’ll come to a teammate’s defense any time that I’m in a position to come to a teammate’s defense. … What matters to me is how the people that I care about feel, first and foremost. How are the people that I care about affected? How are the people I care about, what do they have to deal with? That’s it for me.”
Timberwolves wing Jaden McDaniels and Warriors guard Klay Thompson got into an altercation and Gobert grabbed Thompson to break up the fight. That’s when Green stepped in and began to choke Gobert.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Updates
Green was suspended by the NBA for five games.
“Things can be interpreted how people want to interpret them,” Green said. “I’m not here to judge people’s interpretations or try to change them. They are what they are. I know that for me, I am always going to be there for my teammates. That’s who I am. That’s who I am as a teammate, that’s who I am as a friend. … Right, wrong or indifferent, look to your side and I’ll be there — or even in front of you.”
NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars said Green’s history of unsportsmanlike conduct played a role in the length of the suspension.
“To continue mentioning, ‘Oh, well, he did this in the past,’ I paid for those,” Green said. “I got suspended in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. You can’t keep suspending me for those actions.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Updates
The 33-year-old Green is averaging 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists on the season for the Warriors while shooting 48.2% from the field, 45.0% from beyond the arc and 88.9% from the free-throw line.
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