“Hope he’s continuing counseling”: NBA analyst blasts Draymond Green as on-court antics continue

According to ESPN’s Seth Greenberg, there has been controversy surrounding the on-court behavior of Golden State Warriors veteran star forward Draymond Green this season. In order to improve his behavior, the four-time NBA champion may benefit from additional counseling.

Despite accumulating 10 technical fouls, the most in the league, along with four ejections and two suspensions this season, Green has missed a total of 17 games. In January, after completing his most recent suspension, the 34-year-old reportedly sought counseling to demonstrate his readiness to return to the court.

Despite his return, Green has managed to avoid any major conflicts, unlike the two incidents that resulted in suspensions. Nonetheless, he has sometimes struggled to control his temper.

During the Warriors’ game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, the four-time All-Star was ejected within four minutes for vehemently protesting a call. Coach Steve Kerr later deemed the ejection as “inexcusable.”

After one game, in the fourth quarter of the Friday away game against the Charlotte Hornets, Green attempted to kick Hornets forward Grant Williams in the groin. The two almost got into a fight but the situation was diffused.

During his appearance on the “Papa & Lund”show on KNBR, Greenberg raised doubts about Green’s reported counseling and criticized him for his consistent disruptive behavior.

“If he really went and had counseling, then I hope he’s continuing counseling,’cause it’s not working,”Greenberg said. “What messaging are you sending? If you’re better than your problems, you can act like a fool.”

This statement is consistent with the former college basketball coach’s recent appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,”during which he urged Kerr to bench Green.

“The culture creators in that locker room have to take ownership of what’s going on,”Greenberg said. “You know what this is, it’s Steve Kerr.. .. Don’t play the dude! He’s absolutely killing your culture, your identity and basically everything that you’ve built. Eventually no means no.”

At the 0:18 mark in the video below, the subject matter changes.

Although Draymond Green is known for his disruptive behavior, he is still widely recognized as the Golden State Warriors’ best defender. Currently, the Warriors (40-34, 10th in the Western Conference) are fighting to secure a play-in spot, holding a slim 2.0 game lead over the 11th-ranked Houston Rockets (38-36) with only eight games left in the season.

Therefore, unless any significant conflicts arise, it seems improbable that the team will dismiss Green. However, if Golden State fails to achieve its playoff objectives, it may contemplate parting ways with the experienced player during the offseason.

Steve Kerr Praises Draymond Green’s Defensive Dominance Amid Controversy

Despite the continuous demands for Golden State to part ways with him, Draymond Green proved his worth in Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Green showcased a timeless performance, displaying his skills on both offense and defense. He ended the game with 21 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, six steals, one block, and two 3-pointers, shooting at an impressive 88.9% accuracy.

At 34 years old, he proved to be clutch as he grabbed an offensive rebound that led to teammate Klay Thompson hitting a game-winning 3-pointer with 38.7 seconds left in the game.

Following their 117-113 win on the road, Steve Kerr praised Green for his impact on the game.

“Draymond was incredible tonight. That was a defensive masterpiece,”Kerr said. “The offensive board at the end with the Klay 3 [was] probably the play of the game. You watch that game, Draymond, he’s a genius defensively. … Part of Draymond’s genius, he seems to be half a step ahead of everybody.”

If Green continues to excel in his defensive performances, his likelihood of staying with Golden State beyond this season will greatly improve.