Draymond Green said he reciprocated the nastiness he received from fans as he made his way back to the locker room after getting hit in the face in the first quarter of Game 2.
Following Draymond Green’s first-quarter gesture to Memphis Grizzlies fans on Tuesday night, the NBA has announced the Warriors star will be fined.
Green gave two middle fingers to the FedExForum crowd on his way to the locker room during Golden State’s 106-101 loss to the Grizzlies in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals -- a move that will cost him $25,000, the league announced Thursday.
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The 32-year-old flipped Memphis fans off -- who were showering him with boos -- as he left the court to be evaluated for an injury after taking an elbow to the face. He received stitches for a laceration to his right eye and returned in the second quarter.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Green said the gesture “felt good” and was well aware he would likely be fined.
“If you're going to boo somebody who got elbowed in the eye, face running down blood, you should get flipped off," Green said on Tuesday night. "I'll take the fine and go make an appearance and make up the money. But it felt really good to flip them off. You're going to boo someone that got elbowed in the eye and blood running down your face. I could have had a concussion and everything. So if they are going to be that nasty, I can be that nasty, too. And I'm assuming the cheers was because they knew I was going to get fined.
“Great. I make $25 million a year. I should be just fine."
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Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was fined $50,000 at the end of April after giving the bird to the Boston Celtics crowd not once, but twice, during the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
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The Tuesday night matchup between the Warriors and Grizzlies was filled with heated moments and got off to a violent start, with the NBA also announcing Thursday that Memphis guard-forward Dillon Brooks will be suspended for Game 3 after a Flagrant 2 foul on Gary Payton II that also took place in the first quarter.
With the series tied 1-1, Golden State will look to the swing momentum back in their favor at Chase Center on Saturday.
And while Green’s wallet might be a little bit lighter coming into Game 3, his motivation to win will likely be at an all-time high.
