Draymond Green opposes Mazzulla’s idea to bring back NBA games

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Celtics

“I’ll leave that to Joe. Joe, you go fight. Smoking Joe.”

Draymond Green opposes Mazzulla’s idea to bring back NBA games

Draymond Green has had his share of physical fights in the past. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and former NBA star Baron Davis recently discussed Joe Mazzulla’s comments about wanting to bring combat back to the NBA. Green’s podcast is “The Draymond Show.”

Green, who gained attention by collecting numerous fines for physical and sometimes controversial plays, disagreed with Mazzulla. Green was also suspended for 12 games last season for hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face.

He said fighting almost led him down a path he tried to avoid.

“The only thing I would say to Joe Mazzulla is fighting will get you out of this league, bro,” Green said. “I understand what Joe is going for. Moreso what he’s saying is the intensity, the swearing and the testing of guys. We’re keeping a lot of that out of the game today, so I think that’s what he’s saying.”

“But just like real physical fights, Joe, I’m here to file a petition against you and say ‘no, we’re not doing that’ because that’s pretty much where it got me, man,
Green added. “I don’t want any of this. I am good. You can all fight. I’ll leave that to Joe. Joe, you go fight. Smoking Joe.

Mazzulla clarified his comments He said earlier this week that he was not advocating violence. He said there could be rule changes that could allow for more physicality, such as creating the power play.

He also said that players should be allowed to express themselves. Davis agreed that finding a way to allow for more expression would make the game more fun.

“I think what he meant was to let people push and shove, you know what I mean? “We’re bringing the competition back into the game,” Davis said. “People are angry, you’ve got some fouls, you’ve got some rivalries because when you look at rivalries right now it’s who’s going to make the most threes and it’s a little bit There’s such a thing as chit-chat, but, like, can we let the guys?” lock it up? Don’t necessarily fight because I think basketball is a gentleman’s game.

“You have etiquette and (expletive) like that,” Davis added. “There are rules and codes where you shouldn’t try to hurt anyone or eliminate anyone, you’ll look like a maniac. But there is also an emotional capacity; “If you let guys let their feelings out, it’s more fun.”

Green and the Warriors will face the Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

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Khari A. Thompson

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Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Khari covered college football at The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss., before joining the team in 2022.