Draymond Green has never been one to back down from controversy, and he’s finally speaking out about the infamous stomp on Domantas Sabonis. In a recent appearance on Kai Cenat’s stream, the Warriors forward defended himself by claiming the viral clip didn’t tell the whole story and that Sabonis had his ankle locked before the stomp.
“You got to get him back, because why is he holding on to my ankle? You can’t grab my ankle, or I’ll step on you,” said Green. “He got my ankle wrapped; they don’t want you to see that part. He’s got my whole ankle, but they just want you to see the stomp.”
Draymond has always carried the reputation for being a “dirty player,” and this incident with Sabonis is just one of his many controversies. From being suspended in the 2016 Finals to his infamous groin kicks on Steven Adams, to his punch on Jordan Poole, Dray is notorious for crossing the line when emotions run high, and it reached a boiling point in 2022, when he had to step away after hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in a game.
Of course, Green always has a defense for his actions, and this one with Sabonis was no different. This particular moment was in Game 2 of the 2023 Western Conference playoffs, in the first round against the Kings. In the fourth quarter, with about seven minutes left, Domantas scrambled for a loose ball when he fell to the floor and grabbed Draymond’s ankle.
Green immediately resorted to stomping on Sabonis, which resulted in him getting ejected from the game. The Warriors went on to lose that game (114-106), and Green was suspended in Game 3 due to his long history of unsportsmanlike acts.
While the Warriors went on to win the series, the encounter only worsened Draymond’s reputation, and he was condemned around the NBA for his show of violence. While Sabonis’s grab did not go unnoticed, officials determined his foul was technical, but Green’s retaliation was excessive. After the series, Green unleashed on Sabonis and claimed that he lost all respect for him for refusing to shake the Warriors’ hands.
Looking back, it’s clear that both players were at fault, and grabbing Draymond’s ankle could have led to a serious injury on the court. The difference is, Sabonis doesn’t have that kind of history of making dirty plays, whereas Green’s record is littered with these types of incidents.
While he might be able to explain away this ejection, it doesn’t account for the other times that he’s crossed the line both on and off the court. As much as he’s done for the Warriors (4x All-Star, 4x champion, 2017 Defensive Player of the Year), his lack of self-control is often cited as his biggest flaw.
Going into this new season, Draymond will have to try harder to keep his emotions in check if he wants the best chance to win another title. With Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry healthy, they’ll have a shot at the title if Green can avoid starting trouble.
In the end, Draymond’s legacy will always be a mix of brilliance and chaos. He’s one of the greatest defensive players of his generation, the heartbeat of four Warriors championships, and a future Hall of Famer. But with every stomp, swing, and suspension, he risks overshadowing his impact with self-inflicted wounds.
