Draymond Green explains why he’s against Joe Mazzulla’s idea to bring fighting back to the NBA
"I'm going to leave that to Joe. Joe you go fight. Smokin' Joe."
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and former NBA star Baron Davis discussed Joe Mazzulla’s comments about wanting to bring fighting back to the NBA during a recent episode of Green’s podcast “The Draymond Show.”
Green, who has drawn attention by collecting numerous fines on physical and sometimes controversial plays, disagreed with Mazzulla’s take. Green also served a 12-game suspension last season for striking Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face.
He said that fighting almost led him down a path he is trying to avoid.
“One thing I would say to Joe Mazzulla is fighting would have you out of this league, bro,” Green said. “I get what Joe is trying to get at. Moreso what he’s saying is the intensity and the (expletive) talking and guys getting tested. We take so much of that out of the game today, so I think that’s what he’s getting at.”
“But, like actual physical fights, Joe, I’m here to petition against you and say ‘no, we’re not doing that’ because where that almost led me, my man,
Green added. “I don’t want none of that. I’m cool. Y’all can have the fighting. I’m going to leave that to Joe. Joe you go fight. Smokin’ Joe.”
Mazzulla clarified his comments earlier this week, saying that he wasn’t advocating for violence. He said that there could be rule changes that could allow for more physicality, such as instituting a 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 entertaining.
“I think what he meant was allowing people to tussle, allowing people to push, you know what I mean? Bringing the fight back to the game,” Davis said. “People are pissed off, you’ve got some fouls, you’ve got some rivalries because right now when you look at rivalries it’s like whose going to make the most threes and a little bit of jawing but, like, can we allow dudes to lock up? Not necessarily fight because I think basketball is a gentleman’s game.
“You’ve got etiquette, and (expletive) like that,” Davis added. “There’s rules and codes to where you ain’t trying to hurt nobody or take nobody out, you’d look like a maniac and whatnot. But, there’s also an emotional capacity where if you allow dudes to get their emotions out it would be more entertaining.”
Green and the Warriors will take on the Celtics at TD Garden Wednesday night.
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