It killed Draymond Green to not be out there with his teammates for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-97 and now there will be a Game 6.
Green was suspended for last night’s game after the league assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for striking LeBron James in the groin during Game 4. Under league rules, Green could be in the building, so he was forced to watch the game in a suite at the Oakland Coliseum.
Green’s former college coach at Michigan State, Tom Izzo, told ESPN that it was difficult for the Warriors forward to watch the game away from Oracle Arena.
“That passion of feeling like he let his teammates down, his city down, his owner down,” Izzo said on the “Mike & Mike” show Tuesday. “All those things were going through his mind.”
“It was hard on him,” Izzo said. “He said he’d rather give up a million dollars and fines than be held out. I think that tells you how important winning is to him.”
“That’s who he is,” Izzo said. “That’s his DNA. He’s not necessarily a street fighter. He’s not a thug. He is a guy that plays with incredible passion, with incredible toughness. Winning is important.”
Green will be able to return to the Warriors lineup for Game 6 on Thursday in Cleveland. For his own sake and the sake of his team, he can’t let his emotions get the best of him again and risk hurting the team.
