Draymond Green took to his podcast to respond to the viral clip of Houston Rockets player Tari Eason calling out the Warriors on Instagram, questioning why someone like Eason, who hasn't played in months, is antagonizing opponents for his teammates to deal with.
"I'm a little surprised that he hasn't played in a game since January 1st. So, it's kind of tough to come out yelling 'Come out and play' and you're not gonna play. It puts a lot of strain on your guys and you can't get out there and help them.”
Eason was having a solid season, averaging 9.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Unfortunately, a left leg injury has ruined his season, as he's expected to return for the 2024-25 campaign. He's a high-potential player who could be a major difference-maker for the Rockets going forward, but he won't step out on the court this season even if Houston steals the No. 10 seed away from Golden State.
Draymond is under fire from a lot of fronts right now for his behavior on the court this season. Suspensions for attacking Rudy Gobert and Jusuf Nurkic weren't enough for Green, as since then, he's instigated fights with the likes of Santi Aldama and Patty Mills, getting ejected from his last game. Green is averaging 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists this season.
Is Draymond Green Fit To Continue Playing?
Draymond Green had a level-headed response to Tari Eason, but what is the problem behind his constant behavioral outbursts? Green doesn't seem immature to the extent that he would deliberately keep hurting his teammates by becoming a center of negativity in every game. So, what could be wrong?
Green was forced to go through counseling after the Jusuf Nurkic incident, something that seems to have been ineffective. Kendrick Perkins encouraged Green to get more help in a statement of genuine concern.
“You’re supposed to get help. You’re supposed to come back a better man. I'm not asking you to change your approach to the game as far as tenacity and passion but you’re supposed to be able to balance the two. If you’re not balancing it, then all of a sudden you might need to go get more help. And help is okay.”
Other people have also questioned if Green is a candidate for an early retirement given how the frustrations of this season have affected him. It's affecting the entire Warriors franchise as a whole, so hopefully, Draymond can reconcile with the game of basketball.
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