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Draymond Green has made little attempt to hide his disdain for Timberwolves star big man Rudy Gobert over the years. In a long line of his transgressions on the floor, after all, none has been more blatant than what happened back in November 2023.
In what should have been a run-of-the-mill early-season game between two good teams, it took only two minutes into a Warriors-Wolves game for a scuffle to break out. That scuffle, memorably, ended with Green gripping Gobert in a chokehold.
Green was suspended five games for the incident.
After Game 7 of the Warriors' first-round series against the Rockets, Green was asked by The Athletic about facing Gobert and the Timberwolves in Round 2. He vowed to keep his head.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts during Game 2 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
“I have to keep it similarly (calm) for my guys,” Green said. “Forget anybody else. I’ll be locked in. Finding that balance, finding that line and not crossing it is important for me and this team. I gave them my word, and I’ll continue to give them my word."
Gobert, for his part, spoke about Green on Tuesday afternoon, hours before Game 1 is to tip off in Minnesota.
He told reporters: "To me, it’s a team matchup. I am going to try to help my team win, be the best Rudy I can be and play basketball. Obviously, he’s Draymond, he is going to be—he is an all-time great defender. He’s gonna be very physical, he is going to be himself, and for me it is really about being myself. Also, be physical and all the things I do to help my team win.
"I enjoy it. I enjoy the competitive aspect of the game, the physicality and all these things. So, I am excited. He’s a fierce competitor and so am I."
Gobert is coming off a memorable explosion in Game 5, in which he scored 27 points with 24 rebounds against the Lakers, after having tallied just 14 points total in the first four games of the series.
Continue reading...
In what should have been a run-of-the-mill early-season game between two good teams, it took only two minutes into a Warriors-Wolves game for a scuffle to break out. That scuffle, memorably, ended with Green gripping Gobert in a chokehold.
Green was suspended five games for the incident.
After Game 7 of the Warriors' first-round series against the Rockets, Green was asked by The Athletic about facing Gobert and the Timberwolves in Round 2. He vowed to keep his head.
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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts during Game 2 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
“I have to keep it similarly (calm) for my guys,” Green said. “Forget anybody else. I’ll be locked in. Finding that balance, finding that line and not crossing it is important for me and this team. I gave them my word, and I’ll continue to give them my word."
Gobert, for his part, spoke about Green on Tuesday afternoon, hours before Game 1 is to tip off in Minnesota.
He told reporters: "To me, it’s a team matchup. I am going to try to help my team win, be the best Rudy I can be and play basketball. Obviously, he’s Draymond, he is going to be—he is an all-time great defender. He’s gonna be very physical, he is going to be himself, and for me it is really about being myself. Also, be physical and all the things I do to help my team win.
"I enjoy it. I enjoy the competitive aspect of the game, the physicality and all these things. So, I am excited. He’s a fierce competitor and so am I."
Gobert is coming off a memorable explosion in Game 5, in which he scored 27 points with 24 rebounds against the Lakers, after having tallied just 14 points total in the first four games of the series.
Continue reading...
