Klay Thompson sounds off on Draymond Green suspension (Video)
By John Buhler
Klay Thompson is usually quiet, but he definitely had some things to say about Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green being suspended for Game 5.
The Golden State Warriors will have to play potential series-clinching Game 5 at home in Oracle Arena on Monday night without star power forward Draymond Green, who was suspended by the NBA for his Flagrant 1 foul stemming from an on-court incident involving LeBron James in Game 4 on Friday night.
Green’s usually quiet All-Star teammate shooting guard Klay Thompson sounded off on the NBA’s decision to keep Green out of Game 5 after Warriors’ practice on Sunday afternoon.
"Klay Thompson reacts to Draymond Green’s Game 5 suspension… https://t.co/ols1RftuQi— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 12, 2016"
Thompson said on James’ reaction to Green’s trash talking episode from Game 4, “I’m surprised some guys take it so personal. It’s a man’s league. I guess he got his feeling hurt.”
Thompson would later state that he and his brother Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson grew up constantly trash-talking to each other when the were kids. Their father Mychal Thompson played for the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers in an era where trash-talking was very prevalent in the NBA.
Losing Green is Game 5 definitely hurts Golden State’s chances to close out this best-of-seven series at home on Monday night, however, the Warriors should still be heavily favored to win the 2016 NBA Finals on the home court even without Green’s availability.
Golden State has arguably the deepest bench on any team in the NBA, so head coach Steve Kerr can certainly put together a rotation that can account for Green’s loss better than most teams could. Thompson would say that Golden State will win Game 5 for Green.
Though Green cannot play in the game, he would have clearance to partake in the post-game celebration at Oracle Arena should the Warriors win the 2016 NBA Finals in five games. Last season, it took Golden State six games to close out Cleveland, winning the franchise’s first NBA Championship in 40 years on the road at Quicken Loans Arena.
For more NBA Finals coverage, please check out our NBA Finals category page.