Draymond Green was ejected from Game 2 of the Warriors' playoff clash with the Kings after stomping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis. The Warriors forward is defending his actions, and he isn't alone.
Following the game, Green said Sabonis grabbed his leg and he needed to "land my foot somewhere."
"I'm not the most flexible person so it's not stretching that far," Green said. "I can only step so far with him pulling my leg away."
"My leg got grabbed. Second time in two nights. Referees just watch it.”
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2023
-Draymond talks about his flagrant on Sabonis pic.twitter.com/ywIMKFKHYo
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Green was hit with a Flagrant 2 with 7:03 left in the fourth quarter, resulting in his ejection from the game. Sabonis was assessed a technical foul for grabbing Green's leg.
The officials had initially given Green just a technical as well before reviewing the play and upgrading it to a Flagrant 2. The reason?
"The explanation was I stomped too hard," Green said.
Green continued his defense on social media with an Instagram story showing Sabonis wrapped around his leg, mocking it as a "Solid basketball play!!"
Draymond’s IG story of Domantas Sabonis grabbing his right leg with both arms: “Nothing wrong here. Solid basketball play!!” pic.twitter.com/dOIY7XRIC9
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 18, 2023
The incident left Sabonis with a rib injury and Green undergoing X-rays on his ankle with the possibility of a suspension looming.
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Green's stomping has divided the NBA community. While some saw the stomp as worthy of the Flagrant 2 and a possible suspension, others, like Shaquille O'Neal and Damian Lillard came to Green's defense.
Take foul on Sabonis … I didn’t think Dray tried to step down … that’s just how his balance ended up 🤷🏽♂️…
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 18, 2023
"I would've done the same thing, I really would. Don't be grabbing me because what am I going to do? If I stand there and just try to run forward, I'll fall. You've got to get him off of you," O'Neal said. "Was it a dirty play? Of course it was a dirty play. If you don't grab me, this won't happen."
“Why don’t you lay on the floor and I’ll see if I can stomp on you?” 🤣💀@SHAQ & Chuck on Draymond's ejection pic.twitter.com/LDI9WGUT3D
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 18, 2023
This wasn't the first time Green said he had been held by a Kings player in this series. He said during Game 1, Malik Monk grabbed his leg on the baseline under the rim.
"Either you’re going to stop it, [Game 1 official] John Goble’s looking at Monk holding my leg the last game and he just let it go," Green said. "And [Game 2 official] Zach [Zarba] clearly was watching my leg get held this game and let it go. So I guess ankle grabbing is OK.”
