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NY Post
New York Post
1 May 2023


NextImg:Draymond Green ‘lost a lot of respect’ for Domantas Sabonis over not shaking hands

Winning a seven-game series against the Kings wasn’t enough for Warriors star Draymond Green.

Following Golden State’s 120-100 win over Sacramento in Game 7 of their first-round NBA playoff series on Sunday, Green took one last shot at Kings forward Domantas Sabonis for not shaking hands after the series.

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Green — who served a one-game suspension in Game 3 for stepping on Sabonis’ chest in Game 2 — said he “lost a lot of respect for Sabonis” after he apparently skipped the handshake line.

“You don’t shake guys’ hands after you lose, I don’t respect that,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” with Volume Sports, which was recorded shortly after Game 7.

“I once left the court when we lost in Game 7 to the Cleveland Cavaliers [in the 2016 NBA Finals] and I went to my locker room and I sat down and I said, ‘This don’t feel right’ — and I walked back out on the court and I showed everybody love.”

The 2016 NBA Finals ended with LeBron James leading the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit to take Game 7 on Golden State’s home floor. 

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“You lost. Deal with it,” Green said of Sabonis. “Pay your respect. That was wack to me. That’s wack. But I wouldn’t necessarily even say ‘lost respect’ … I don’t respect that and that’s wack.”

Draymond Green on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show” with Volume Sports on April 30.
Twitter

Green went on to say that he gained respect for the Kings organization, its fan base and a few players after the first-round series.

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“De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, [head coach] Mike Brown and company I gained a lot of respect for,” Green said, adding that he’s “always” had respect for Brown, his former assistant coach in Golden State.

“A lot of times in these playoff series, man, you leave the series and you’re like, ‘Man, I lost all respect for that guy.’ ‘He gets in these series and tightens up, gets soft, and don’t embrace the moment’ … I got a lot of respect for them boys.”

Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings shoots a free throw during the game during Round 1 Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings shoots a free throw during the game during Round 1 Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
NBAE via Getty Images

Green and Sabonis made headlines after they got tangled up in the fourth quarter of Sacramento’s 114-106 win over the Warriors in Game 2.

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With 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter, Green stepped on Sabonis’ chest after the Kings All-Star grabbed and held onto Green’s right ankle after falling to the floor. 

Green was ejected and received a Flagrant 2 foul, while Sabonis was assessed a technical foul.

Draymond Green on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show" with Volume Sports on April 30.

Draymond Green on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show” with Volume Sports on April 30.
Twitter

Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the NBA, said the suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.

Green was suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 Finals against the Cavaliers after he got tangled up with James and made contact with his groin.

The Warriors star finished with eight points, six rebounds and eight assists and in Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Kings.

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings wait for the rebound during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

Warriors forward Draymond and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings wait for the rebound during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Ca.
NBAE via Getty Images

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Sabonis, who went scoreless until the second half, tallied 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Golden State will face the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, beginning Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET.