While the Golden State Warriors may be defending Draymond Green’s kick to Steven Adams’ groin as inadvertent, some in Oklahoma City’s locker room are not as forgiving.
Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook said after Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday that he thought Green’s kick to Adams’ groin (video here) during the second quarter was intentional.
Russell Westbrook on the Draymond kick: "Honestly I think it was intentional. That's two times in the last two games."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2016
More Russell Westbrook on Draymond: "You can't go kicking someone in their private areas."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2016
Adams also noted that Green has a pattern of hitting him.
Steven Adams on Draymond: "It's happened before. Pretty accurate, that guy."
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 23, 2016
Here are the two shots side-by-side:
Game 2's knee vs Game 3's kick pic.twitter.com/HB69kIUXh0
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2016
Adams stopped short of saying Green should be suspended, instead saying that is up to the league.
OKC head coach Billy Donovan also did not want to state an opinion on whether or not the move was intentional. He said he thought the league would review the play since it’s the second incident involving Green.
Though Westbrook has come straight out and accused Green of kicking Adams intentionally, the Warriors forward proclaimed his innocence and said he couldn’t help it. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared similar thoughts and also said he thought the league would rescind the Flagrant 1 foul.
The league has a day to decide what to do before Game 4 on Tuesday.
