This Hurts: Find Out How the NBA Seriously Shaded Draymond Green With Game 5 Suspension
Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green has been suspended for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals after he was assessed a flagrant foul 1 by the league for what the NBA called a "retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin" of Cavaliers' LeBron James.
Adding salt to the wound, per NBA rules, the suspension demands that Green won't even be allowed to sit on the Warriors bench, or be inside Oracle Arena at all for the potential championship clinching game. That means he won't be able to participate in victory, should it come to that, after a grueling season of hard work.
While many fans are speaking out in defense of Green, the suspension is warranted by league rule, especially when you consider how many physical altercations Green has been in throughout this year's playoffs.
When asked what James intentions were when he stepped over Green. He said the game was still in play. "I was just trying to get back into the play. I think what had happened [with Green] was intentional," he said. "I knew we got into a grapple at the top of the key, but me just trying to get back into the play."
Regarding Green's forced absence from the upcoming Game 5, teammate, Shaun Livingston said, "We're all going to carry it. He's our leader, and with him down, it's a dangerous game, because we have guys who can step up. We're definitely going to be playing with that chip on our shoulder."
NBA players and commentators alike have taken to Twitter to voice their issues with the suspension.
In related news, the day before the suspension was made, Peggy VanDeWeghe, the wife of NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe, posted a now controversial tweet pertaining to the ruling.
The since-deleted tweet read, "Just got in a #MaritalArgument over #NBAFinals re: @KingJames & @Money23Green altercation!"
Controversy aside, the Warriors are one win away from their second consecutive NBA Championship. They'll just have to do without, arguably, their second most important player.