Draymond Green may want to take his words back.
Antoine Walker says Draymond made a mistake boasting about his deferential treatment
The combative Warriors star boasted to reporters Sunday about the deference he receives from NBA officials, due to his championship resume. Green was an unrelenting instigator against the Celtics in Game 2, such as when he initiated contact with Jaylen Brown late in the first half, and didn’t receive another technical foul.
ESPN rules analyst Steve Javie admitted on the telecast that Green probably didn’t pick up another technical, because he was already whistled for one.
On “Merloni, Fauria & Mego” Monday, former Celtics great Antoine Walker said Green should’ve kept his thoughts to himself.
“I think Draymond made a huge mistake with the comments he made — I think on SportsCenter after the game — about the referees referee him differently,” Walker said. “I don’t think you put stuff out there like that. I think that sets a bad tone. Also, it’s letting the refs know, ‘Hey, I’m going to make a dirty play. I’m going to do something dirty. And I know I can get past it.’ So I think he may have stuck his foot in his mouth with that one.”
Green was unapologetic Sunday about the way he carried himself.
“It’s the NBA finals. Like I said, I wear my badge of honor,” he said post-game. “It’s not that I’m saying they necessarily treat me different. I’ve earned differential treatment. I enjoy that. I embrace that.”
The Celtics weren’t silent about the lopsided way in which the game was called. Jayson Tatum complained they didn’t receive the “benefit of the doubt,” and Ime Udoka was slapped with a technical of his own.
Either way, Green has provided them with plenty of bulletin board material. After Game 1, he dismissed the incredible efforts from Boston’s role-players, saying they wouldn’t be able to carry over their knockdown shooting for the rest of the series.
Green was proven right in Game 2. We’ll see if his boisterous proclamations hold up in Game 3 Wednesday.