On Monday, Draymond Green added yet another dirty play to his extended lexicon when he stomped Domantas Sabonis. At this point, it’s hard to argue that Green is a dirty player, especially in the heat of the moment.
But Damian Lillard isn’t the only major NBA star defending Green’s position for his stomp. His teammates, particularly Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, also backed Green’s explanation that Sabonis had a hold of his ankle and could’ve hurt him seriously.
Given Green’s history, it’s not something we’re used to, but the defense of this stomp remains rather curious from two players who might know him best. Both Curry and Thompson leaned on the rationale that the player having their foot/ankle grabbed is in an impossible situation.
That no matter what they’re going to do to react, it’ll be wrong.
Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry discuss the Domantas Sabonis and Draymond Green incident. pic.twitter.com/p975XncfEv
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 18, 2023
“I don’t know what you’re supposed to do in that situation.” Uh, not stomp them?
“What are you gonna do when someone grabs your foot while you’re running full speed?” Uh, again, not stomp them?
I understand and appreciate the player’s perspective here about the dangers on the court, but you don’t have to cross the line and hurt someone in return. You don’t have to take it to another level off of something that seems so subjective in real-time.
This would also be a different story if it were almost anyone but Green.
But, with his past in the account, he doesn’t deserve much of any benefit of the doubt.
