Unlike some of his previous unsportsmanlike acts, Draymond Green didn’t put anyone in a headlock or kick them in their crotches on Wednesday night.
But the outrage he’s receiving for getting ejected from a game against Orlando is unlike anything he’s faced.
On the surface, Green was ejected for two technical fouls. That happens to players daily in the league. However, Stephen Curry’s reaction summed up the angst towards Green in the NBA landscape, and when Steve Kerr said the forward “deserved” to be ejected, it drove home that everyone is tired of Green’s antics.
Tim Legler, typically a mild-mannered individual, let it rip on Green during Thursday’s “Get Up” on ESPN.
“Last night struck a chord with me,” Legler said. “The only word I could think of was ‘selfish.’ This is a selfish move when your team desperately needs you.”
“There’s just no controlling the guy,” Legler continued. “The thing that bothers me about Draymond is, even after the fact, he’s acting like he’s the victim. That’s the part that blows my mind — you’re not a victim. It’s about putting your team first. We’ve been through this too many times.”
Jay Williams suggested that Curry and Kerr are “over” Green, and their body language reflected this on Wednesday. He added that the “writing is on the wall” for Golden State to part with Green in the offseason.
“On his podcast, Draymond talks about how good of a teammate he is. Think about that contradiction,” Williams said. “He continues to show consistent behavior not thinking about his teammates.”
Elsewhere, Shannon Sharpe questioned if Green truly worked on bettering himself through counseling, which he had undergone after his indefinite suspension.
“Why do we keep having these conversations? Draymond said he learned his lesson because he cost his team the 2016 championship,” Sharpe said on his “Nightcap” podcast. “He said, ‘You no longer have to worry about me because I’m never gonna [cross the line].'”
Keyshawn Johnson, speaking on FS1’s “Undisputed,” agreed with the sentiments that the Warriors’ patience has worn thin and that they will likely trade Green in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Rasheed Wallace is thrilled that Green, who was ejected for the 19th time in his career on Wednesday, is closing in on his record tally of 25 ejections.