Tuesday night’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies will be remembered for a long time, mainly due to the impressive performance by Stephen Curry, who scored 52 points, breaking NBA records held by icons such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, and LeBron James. However, other storylines also emerged throughout the game, one of which involved Draymond Green and a Memphis star.
During the postgame press conference following the Warriors’ 134-125 victory at FedExForum, Green was asked about Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s ejection for committing six fouls and how it benefited Golden State. “I’m disappointed in Jaren,” was the surprising response from the 35-year-old forward.
“He’s too good to still be getting in foul trouble. A couple of those fouls he picked up, he can stay away from them. It’s time for him to take that next step in that department,” Draymond added. “It was huge for us for him to get out of the game. I’m happy he did, but I’m a Jaren fan. I’m always rooting for him.”
The four-time NBA champion then explained his connection with Jackson. “You know I’ve got a lot of love for him, that’s my Spartan dog,” he said. “That was a little disappointing from the big brother in me for him… To see him still getting some of those fouls that he’s picking up, he can’t do that. His team needs him out there.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts after a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 06, 2024.
Draymond Green’s reaction to Jaren Jackson Jr.’s ejection
In the same press conference, Green elaborated on the duality of emotions he felt during the game as Jaren Jackson Jr. accumulated fouls leading to his ejection. “Every foul he picked up, I was happy during the game,” he admitted. “But there’s a part of me thinking, ‘You can’t do that.’ When he picked up the fifth one, I literally walked to (Desmond) Bane on the bench and said, ‘Bane, that’s crazy. That’s ridiculous.’”
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Green then reiterated his praise for the Grizzlies‘ power forward. “Jaren can’t do that, man. Jaren’s too good of a player to still be doing that,” Draymond said. “He’s gotta figure that out. He’s gotten too much better offensively, and he’s too hard to stop to be taking himself out of the game on the defensive side of the ball.”
Green knows what he’s talking about
When discussing Jaren Jackson Jr.’s performance and how he should behave on the defensive side of the ball, the Warriors star speaks from a position of authority as one of the NBA’s top players in that aspect of the game.
Having won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, he is now in the running for his second trophy this year. Green himself has defended his case, clearly outlining his defensive virtues compared to other NBA stars, and that opinion seems to be gaining traction among analysts and fans alike.
Draymond was named Defensive Player of the Month for March, which further boosts his chances of claiming the annual award, surpassing other NBA players in the conversation, including Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley.
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