‘Authentic, unfiltered’ Green not always good
Draymond Green was ejected for a flagrant foul penalty two and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday. Afterward, Green conducted an “emergency podcast” from his Memphis hotel room to discuss the foul and ejection.
Green wasn’t ejected in Game 2 on Tuesday, took an elbow near the eye from fellow Michigan State Spartan Xavier Tillman, and flipped off Memphis fans. The Warriors lost Game 2 and had another must-see – even if you disagree – postgame press conference in which he defended obscene gestures toward fans.
On and off the court, Green is hot topic – some pro, some con and impossible to ignore.
As former player and now NBA analyst J.J. Redick said on ESPN, Green is “real, authentic and unfiltered.”
There’s a reason Turner Sports signed Green to a multiyear deal to provide commentary while still an active player and why he has a podcast with Colin Cowherd and iHeartMedia on The Volume.
Green provides entertainment, and while the league is rooted in competition, entertainment value is a big part of what the NBA provides. Social media enhances both the play and the entertainment. Many players understand and try to take advantage.
The NBA may not always like what Green has to say. The league fined him $25,000 on Thursday for his gesture toward the fans.
And the Warriors get frustrated with him, too.
But people want to watch Green and hear from him.
He has created a valuable niche as a player and entertainer. During All-Star Weekend, I asked Green if his Turner deal is a prelude to a more extensive gig when his playing days conclude.
“I realized, ‘OK, I’m good at this. I need to get better in this area,’ ” Green said. “It’s just like breaking down a game. You watch it over. ‘I could’ve been better here if I did this here. That would’ve made this better. This is what made that take bad.’ ”
Long after Green is done playing, you are still going to see him.
And with Green, you get everything. The defense that makes him one of the game’s premier defenders. The facilitating that allows the Warriors to create some of that wonderful offense. The entertaining press conferences and podcasts. The viral moments. Reminding fans he makes $25 million a year and can handle the NBA fines. The flagrant and technical fouls that get him ejected.
It’s the last part that’s most troubling. His Game 5 suspension in the 2016 NBA Finals with the Warriors leading the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1 gave LeBron James and Co. just enough room to pull off an improbable run to the title.
And while his Game 1 ejection against Memphis didn’t cost the Warriors the game, he now has two flagrant foul points. Two more flagrant foul penalty ones or one flagrant foul penalty two results in an automatic one-game suspension. On his podcast, Green noted that concern. He must play with some restraint the remainder of the playoffs.
ESPN on Wednesday debated Green’s actions with a segment titled “Problem with how Draymond has carried himself?” It lasted nearly 12 minutes. There was the usual yelling and bloviating, and in the end, Redick conveyed the most salient points.
It encapsulated what Draymond Green has known for a while. Draymond Green is good for business.