Timberwolves fans hit Draymond Green with rude welcome in West Finals

Minnesota fans booed Green during TNT’s pregame show Wednesday, most likely due to his constant belittling of their team throughout the last couple of weeks. The four-time champion especially had it out for Wolves center Rudy Gobert, via NBA on TNT.

“Barbeque chicken is happening,” Green said. “Listen, this has been the matchup everyone’s been wanting to see. DPOY (Gobert) verse the MVP (Nikola Jokic). And right now, Rudy Gobert don’t stand a chance…I’m a truth teller and right now the truth is, Rudy Gobert don’t stand a chance against Joker.”

Green said it twice, which made him doubly wrong. While Gobert did have his struggles against Jokic at certain points, the French international helped hold him to 22 points and two assists on 47.4% shooting in Minnesota’s 115-70 dismantling of Denver in Game 6, which turned the tide in the series.

In the same broadcast, Green was also ready to dig the Wolves’ grave after they fell behind 3-2.

“When you lose the belief…it’s over,” he continued. “They don’t believe they can win anymore, which means this series is over.”

Green was being theatrical for the sake of ratings, but it was enough to earn him some harsh treatment from Minnesota fans.

Will the Wolves continue to prove Green wrong?

With Minnesota having home-court advantage over the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, this is the best chance the franchise has ever had of making the NBA Finals. However, Dallas has a penchant for upsetting teams in the playoffs. Luka Doncic and company upset the Phoenix Suns in the second round in 2022, while also pulling off a slight upset of the Los Angeles Clippers in this season’s first round. The Clippers had home-court advantage, but they also were missing Kawhi Leonard for several games.

Of course, the Mavs also took care of the first-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in six games last round. For the Wolves to knock this team off, they’ll have to rally behind their league-leading defense and Anthony Edwards’ offensive prowess.