Warriors forward Draymond Green is one of the most passionate and unapologetic players in today’s NBA.
Green’s on-court stunts have cost him money, missed games and a laundry list of ejections. However, in a recent episode of the Gils Arena podcast with former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, former Pistons player Rasheed Wallace revealed he feels somewhat responsible for Green’s behavior.
According to Wallace, Green's outbursts stem from what he saw in the locker room of Detroit’s 2004 NBA championship team featuring himself, Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince.
“That’s our fault... [Draymond Green] grew up in [the 2004 Pistons] locker room,” Wallace said on the show. “One of his best friends was the son of the GM, so he was around us… Practice, in the locker room, after games, before games, he heard the different language, and we all know it’s a different language when the cameras are not there. … That’s why he doing the bully s--- he doing now, in my opinion. He caught all that s--- in our locker room.”
"That's our fault... [Draymond Green] grew up in [the 2004 Pistons] locker room. One of his bestfriends was the son of the GM, so he was around us... That’s why he doing the bully sh*t he doing now."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 5, 2023
—Rasheed Wallace
(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/THqJtwMqnL
Green returned to the Warriors on Nov. 29 after he was ejected and served a five-game suspension for placing Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold when the two teams clashed on Nov. 15.
The four-time NBA champion holds the second most ejections (19) in NBA history, with Wallace (29) the only player ahead of him.
Asked if he thought Green would eclipse his mark, the 49-year-old gave a candid statement of the possibility.
“Let’s f-----g gooooo,” Wallace said.
In 12 games this season, Green is averaging 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists as the Warriors (9-11) sit at No. 11 in the Western Conference.
