Having Klay Thompson on the mic was a great idea in order to get a beloved player's perspective on his team during game action while he recovers from his torn Achilles. He provided fans with an update on his health, he mixed in his basketball knowledge throughout the broadcast, and he even poked fun at his longtime Splash Bro Steph Curry for some good "acting" on the hardwood.
However, his booth performance on Saturday night also came with a tinge of controversy at the very, very end of the game. Rodney McGruder appeared to exchange a few words with the Warriors in their bench area before leaving the court, and Thompson was asked to dissect what was going on.
"I don't know, this dude might be out the league soon. He's probably mad about that, who knows?" Thompson said. "He's over here checking my guy... over here trying to start something like he's a good player or something. Like, bro, get out of here."
After the game, Draymond Green had some words to say about McGruder as well.
"Apparently he was taking up for Wayne Ellington? When the f--- did Rodney McGruder become the tough guy of the team?" Green said. "I don't know, man, everybody in the league tough these days. It's crazy. I've seen a lot of tough guys this year, I don't understand it.
"Like if you really wanted to do something, you could have done it. Walk over there talking sh-- like he's the team tough guy. Get the hell out of here. F---ing tough guy, Rodney, f---ing tough guy."
But while Klay and Draymond had their teammates' backs in the event that McGruder was attacking them, Wayne Ellington leapt to the defense of his teammate following the heated moment, placing the blame on Warriors' backup Juan Toscano-Anderson and commending McGruder for talking it out "eye-to-eye and face-to-face," as opposed to the alternative.
"For Draymond to sit up and talk all that kind of crazy stuff behind a microphone, I think that's the fake tough-guy stuff, to be honest with you... I think it's unfair for those guys to attack my man like that," Ellington said (via Sideline Sources). "I appreciate Rod and I love him like a brother for whatever he did do that I know wasn't tough-guy stuff. He just probably walked over there and tried to clear the air with the guy."
For what it's worth, a familiar face liked Sideline Source's post with Ellington's comments: Kevin Durant (h/t Reddit user GuyCarbonneauGOAT). And though an Instagram "like" doesn't mean he supports one side or the other, Durant's history with the Warriors seems to suggest he may be siding with the Pistons on this one.
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