One of the most popular topics of discussion around the NBA recently has been the status of Golden State Warriors power forward, Draymond Green. Green was issued an indefinite suspension by the league after striking Jusuf Nurkic of the Phoenix Suns in the face during a matchup last week.
Green was assessed a flagrant-2 for the incident and ejected from the game. It was already his third ejection of the season and second time that the NBA has suspended him. The first instance was for his role in an altercation when the Warriors faced off with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Shortly after tip-off, Jaden McDaniels and Klay Thompson got into it. Green inserted himself into the situation, putting Rudy Gobert into a chokehold, which he held onto for quite a long time. Green was given a five-game suspension for that and in his sixth game back is when he hit Nurkic.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors Updates
It is something that has drawn comments from people all around the basketball world. Former Miami Heat big man Udonis Haslem recently offered his opinion on the situation. He respects Green for being the enforcer on the team, a role he played for two decades with the Heat. But, Haslem believes Green has gone overboard.
“Draymond, man, you’re out of pocket,” Haslem said on the first episode of a new show from Playmaker. “You’re out of pocket. I f— with Draymond, man. There’s only so many warriors in this league, guys that are going to take that tech, going to take that foul, and protect their teammates. But we don’t start that s—. We don’t start it. We ain’t bullies. We don’t look for it. We don’t initiate it. We are guys that prevent it. We are guys that protect our teammates. So, man, I got a lot of respect for Draymond man. But right now, Draymond tripping.” (H/T HeatNation)
Essentially what Haslem is saying is that guys like him aren’t going to start an incident, but you can be sure they will finish it. There is no place in the NBA for bullying, which Green has essentially been doing in his recent incidents.
Haslem also took a subtle shot at Green for the players he is targeting during these altercations. People have pointed out he targets a lot of international players, but Haslem seems a different similarity between them all.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors Updates
“People think he’s crazy. I think he’s smart. Because he knows who he’s [messing] with,” Haslem said. “He choked out [Rudy] Gobert, he hit Nurkic. He’s [messing with] people who really aren’t going to do nothing back.”
That is an interesting take from Haslem and there is likely some truth to it. Those players have done a great job not retaliating, as they aren’t putting their teams at a disadvantage like Green is.
Already suspended for eight games total this season, that number is going to continue growing. Green has a few hurdles that the Warriors and NBA want to see done before considering reinstatement.
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