Draymond Green: Joe Dumars says decision to suspend Golden State Warriors player was ‘difficult’ | Steve Kerr ‘extremely surprised’ | NBA News
NBA executive vice-president Joe Dumars says it was a difficult decision to suspend Golden State’s Draymond Green for the third game of the first-round playoff series vs the Sacramento Kings.
The incident with Sabonis and Green came midway through the fourth quarter of the Sacramento-Golden State game on Monday night. Sabonis grabbed at Green’s ankle and he wound up stepping – some would describe it as stomping – on Sabonis’ chest.
Dumars – whose job duties include being one of the NBA’s major decision-makers for player discipline matters – shed light on what went into the decision to suspend Green for a playoff game, and why Sabonis’ actions did not merit further sanctioning.
“This was not some snap-of-the-finger decision to do this,” Dumars said in an interview with The Associated Press. “There was much discussion, and back and forth, looking at the play itself over and over. And then ultimately we came to the decision that the act itself, and repeat offenses, actually did warrant a suspension.”
Sabonis got a technical, Green was ejected, the Warriors lost to fall into a 2-0 series hole and then the NBA decided Green needed to sit out a full game as well.
“It wasn’t like it went completely unpunished,” Dumars said of Sabonis’ role. “We didn’t think it rose to the level of Draymond’s play – excessive, over-the-top, dangerous, repeat offender. That’s the separation between what he did and what Draymond did.”
The Warriors, predictably, were not pleased with the NBA’s ruling.
“In their defense, what do they care what I have to say? I mean, they know what I’m going to say,” general manager Bob Myers said Wednesday, while Golden State gathered for practice. “They don’t need me to make the decision.
“Winning is messy if you want to be honest about it, there’s an edginess to it. There is tension. Certainly, he’s crossed that line but he has been punished for it”.
Myers continued: “Draymond is not perfect. But I haven’t met anyone who is perfect … he’s been a big part of a lot of winning.
“His mistakes are out there for the world, each time he’s mis-stepped my hope is that he learns from it. He’s been punished. So for the people who ask, ‘Well, when is it going to stop?’. Those people may think this is positive, I suppose.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr offered a similar assessment as Myers, though said he was “extremely surprised” Green got suspended.
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Draymond Green defended his ejection after he appeared to stamp on Domantas Sabonis during their Game 2 match in the NBA playoffs, while Shaquille O’Neal said he would have done the same thing
“There’s no time to spend worrying about it or thinking about it or complaining about it. Doesn’t matter,” Kerr said. “We know what the league decided to do and we have to respond accordingly and go out there and go win the game.”
Kerr also acknowledged Green “has crossed the line” at times over the years, but insisted he has enormous value to the Warriors.
“Draymond is incredibly competitive and passionate and fiery,” Kerr said. “He’s helped us win four championships. I’ve said many times, we don’t have a single championship here without Draymond Green. That’s the truth.”
This latest incident happens to be Green’s second suspension of the season. He had to miss a game in March after his 16th technical of the season. In the preseason, he also caused the Warriors major headaches by punching team-mate Jordan Poole in practice.
Green did not hold back against the Kings, spending several moments gesturing at and yelling to the crowd, which included NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, after the play Monday night. Dumars said those antics were yet another factor.
“The stuff that happened afterward, that doesn’t help the situation,” Dumars said. “But if it was just that alone, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I focused on the act itself, and the fact that it’s a repeat offense, those were the two main things.
“When I took this job I knew these type of situations would arise, not just with Draymond but also other guys I worked with and players and a lot of people across the league that I have personal relationships with.
“I think each one of them knows Joe D. has a job to do. You have to be objective in this seat, and people have to know I’m going to call balls and strikes, going to call it like I see it. You have to be honest in this seat. You have to do it the right way.”
