Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was disappointed by the way the Knicks handled the physicality of the game during their Game 3 loss in the NBA Finals. Green wanted someone on the Knicks to risk an ejection to defend Jalen Brunson after Spurs star Victor Wembanyama shoved the New York guard in the back of the head. While the Golden State enforcer has thoroughly enjoyed the physicality of these NBA Finals so far, he was frustrated by the Knicks' lack of aggression. For two straight games, Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns kept Wembanyama in check, somehow dwarfing the impact of the 7-foot-4 Frenchman. The frustration of that experience seemed to boil over in the first quarter of Monday's game when the Spurs center used his impossibly long arms to throw Brunson, who was setting a pick at the time, off him. Officials did not blow a whistle for this incident, despite the loud protests from the Madison Square Garden crowd. The NBA even reviewed the incident and determined that the uncalled foul would not be upgraded to a flagrant. Green called out Knicks forward Josh Hart for only responding with a 'Yo!' and making no attempt to 'make something happen.' By doing nothing, Wembanyama's act changed how the Spurs perceived the Knicks as a team, according to Green. Green also criticized head coach Mike Brown for his postgame response to reporters where he complained about the free throw advantage San Antonio had. Green believes that by talking about the officiating, Brown was giving the Spurs an out to not own up to not showing up aggressive as they needed to. If there's anyone who knows the importance of being physical in the finals, it's Green. But no one should understand the consequences of that physicality better than he does, either. If Hart did respond during the Wemby-Brunson incident the way Green would have, there's no guarantee the punishment would be limited to a single-game ejection. And then what? The Knicks lose a key member of their starting lineup all for the sake of an intangible mental edge? That doesn't seem like the best advice, but it wouldn't be the first time that Green misjudged the cost of being overly physical in the NBA Finals.
Club News · 2 min read
Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green Slams Knicks for Lack of Aggression
·2026-06-10·2 min read
