1 week Ago By Athlon Sports
Draymond Green has been a staple in the Golden State Warriors lineup for over a decade. While Green often gets overshadowed by Stephen Curry, Green plays a very specific, but necessary role for the Warriors on a nightly basis.Some call him an instigator.
Some call him an enforcer. Some call him a wily veteran who gets under his opponent's skin. No matter how the basketball world labels him, Green knows the exact role he plays on this current Warriors roster.
Green's latest objective has been to agitate the Houston Rockets. Through three games in this first-round, Western Conference series, Green has gotten into it with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and at times, seemingly every player on the Rockets roster.Early in the third quarter of Game 3 on Saturday night, the Warriors found themselves down 51-46.
Green drove to the basket, missing a layup but felt he was fouled by Alperen Sengun. No foul was given, so Green slapped the floor and demonstratively followed the referee up the floor. As they crossed half court, Green got in the referee's face and was instantly hit with a technical foul.
Green explained the situation after the game, making a shocking admission that he intentionally got assessed the technical foul to attempt to motivate his team.“I thought it was time to take one right there, so I did and made sure I got one, and then I kept it pushing..
. Sometimes stuff like that is needed, and I felt like it was needed right there.”Draymond on his technical foul pic.
twitter.com/9imR2pSAzf— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 27, 2025 “I thought it was time to take one right there, so I did and made sure I got one, and then I kept it pushing.
.. Sometimes stuff like that is needed, and I felt like it was needed right there,” Green said during his postgame press conference with reporters.
Green went on to address the role he feels he plays on this roster; the enforcer."You'd better have one (an enforcer) on your team, or you'll just get bullied. I take pride in being that for our guys, for our franchise for many years.
"Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after forcing a turnover by Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) during the fourth quarter of game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesFrom the moment Green was assessed a technical foul (10:53 remaining in the third quarter) through the end of the game, the Warriors outscored the Rockets by 16 points.Green remains a valuable all-around asset for the Warriors.
On Saturday, he finished with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals in 34 minutes. He also remains a force on the defensive end, even at 35 years old, as he finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season.Related: Dillon Brooks Calls Draymond Green ‘Dirty Player’ After Rockets-Warriors Incident.
