Draymond Green defends stamp on Domantas Sabonis during Warriors’ NBA playoff defeat to Kings: “My leg got grabbed. I got to land my foot somewhere”; live NBA continues live on Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Main Event from 3am, Wednesday with LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green said “I got to land my foot somewhere” when quizzed about his sending off against Sacramento Kings for a stamp on Domantas Sabonis.
Green stomped on Sabonis’ chest after the Kings player wrapped his arms around Green’s leg during the fourth quarter of Monday night’s playoff fixture, which Kings won 114-106 to earn a 2-0 series lead.
Green was given a flagrant foul and automatically ejected, with Sabonis called for a technical foul.
Green defended landing his foot on Sabonis, while Shaquille O’Neal said he would have done the same thing
Speaking to media, Green said: “My leg got grabbed. The second time in two nights with the referees just watching [Green says Malik Monk grabbed his leg in front of the official in Game 1].
“I got to land my foot somewhere and I am not the most flexible person so it’s not stretching that far. I can only step so far and pulling my leg away, so it is what it is.
“The explanation was I stomped too hard,” Green said when asked what the referees had told him. It was Monk last game so either you’re going to stop it…
“Jon Goble was looking at Monk hold my leg the last game and he just let it go and Zach (Zarba) was clearly watching my leg get held this game and let it go, so I guess ankle grabbing is okay.”
Shaq: I would have done the same thing
Shaquille O’Neal, analysing the incident for TNT, said: “I am not going to sit here and be a hypocrite. I would have done the same thing. Don’t be grabbing me because what am I gonna do?
“If I try to run forward I am going to fall. You’ve got to get above and and if he is above you, you might get stamped on. Was it a dirty play? Of course it was, but if you don’t grab me this won’t happen.”
Sabonis told TNT: “We’re both fighting for the rebound. We fell on each other. Stuff happens. It’s basketball. We got to move on to the next play.”
Fans in Sacramento yelled derogatory chants towards Green, who egged them on by waving his hands, holding a hand to his ear calling for louder cheers and standing on a chair.
Green was ejected from a playoff game against Memphis Grizzlies last season, while he was also suspended for one game during the 2016 NBA Finals after accumulating too many flagrant fouls in that season’s play-offs.
The 33-year-old has been called for six flagrant fouls and 27 technical fouls in 147 career playoff games.
Live NBA continues live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event from 3am, Wednesday with LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns