After a hard-fought Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals that saw the Warriors take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Memphis Grizzles, Draymond Green honored his late friend and former teammate at Michigan State Adreian Payne, who tragically lost his life in Orlando on Monday.
The Warriors' star forward was caught in pre-game warmups rocking kicks with the words “Long live 5” and "RIP AP" in tribute to Payne.
Once Green reached the podium after the Dub's 101-98 victory, he revealed plans to further honor his late friend.
Green told reporters that he and his wife Hazel will be donating $100K to a fund that will be used on either a scholarship for kids from his hometown of Dayton or even on naming a building on campus after Payne. The four-time All-Star is also calling on other notable Spartans including Magic Johnson and longtime head coach Tom Izzo to help in his efforts.
"I'm gonna go home and just sit on my podcast and talk because I can pause that and cry if I need to cry. I don't like to cry in front of people," Green said during his press conference. "What I will say is Hazel, and I are gonna donate $100,000 to a fund in Adreian's name," he then promised. "I call all of my Spartan family - coach Izzo, Magic, Jaren Jackson, Miles Bridges, Mat Ishbia - all of my Spartan family to come in and let's do something in honor of Adreian."
"If that's naming something on the campus after him, if that is some scholarships for some kids from Dayton, whatever that is, I call on my Spartan family to bend together and do something in Adreian's name.
The former Michigan State Spartans stars played two seasons together in Lansing. Payne, who was only 31 at the time of his passing, played for the Spartans from 2010-14 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors twice.
During his senior season, Payne averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during his senior season, leading the Spartans to the Elite Eight during the 2013-14 season. He was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft, playing four seasons in the league before going overseas.
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