Draymond Green offered his version of the fiery exchange with Victor Wembanyama that led to the wild lob dunk attempt during Golden State’s 109-108 comeback win in San Antonio. The moment became the most replayed clip of the two-game set, and on Monday’s episode of his podcast, Green explained how the confrontation actually started.
Green said the tension began right before the inbound play, per Sports Illustrated. “Right before the dunk, I blocked his shot,” Green said. “When I blocked his shot, I gave him a crazy look, like, yeah, motherf—ka.” According to Green, Wembanyama fired back immediately. “He was like, what, huh, you are too small.”
Green said he walked toward him and responded in kind. “I said, you little, motherf—ka. You are too little. He is like, I am too little? Alright.”
The exchange set the stage for what happened seconds later as the Spurs prepared to inbound the ball under the Warriors basket.
Green Breaks Down the Play That Sparked the Clash
Green said everything that followed unfolded slowly in his mind. He described battling for position with Wembanyama beneath the rim as the pass went up. “He does this spin, but when he spinned, he was still in place. He took one step and he is in front of the rim, catching the lob with the left.”
Green believed he had a chance to make a play. So did teammate Jimmy Butler. But neither reached the ball. “I thought I could get the lob when I saw it go up, but I had no chance at getting it. I thought Jimmy could get the lob from the back side, but he had no chance at getting it. The only person who had a chance to get the lob was the guy who caught the lob, Wemby.”
Officials erased the highlight from the box score because of a foul called on Green during the fight for position. The Warriors forward admitted he felt relief. “I am so f—in happy they called the foul on the floor because the momentum if he dunks that ball and screams in my face like he just did and it counts, I do not know if we can win that game.”
Green said the trash talk went even deeper. “By the way, when I told him he is too little, I said, you f—in scared of me. He is like, what, I ain’t f—in scared. Alright. Watch this. And then the play happened.”
Golden State finished the night with a fourth-quarter rally that erased a 10-point deficit.
Green Credits Wembanyama After Warriors Sweep Two-Game Set
Green and Wembanyama matched up more than any other pairing during the Warriors’ back-to-back wins in San Antonio. According to NBA.com numbers cited on the podcast, Wembanyama shot 8-for-21 with six turnovers while guarded by Green across the two games.
Green felt he had the better stretch statistically, but the former Defensive Player of the Year closed the episode by praising Wembanyama. “Respect earned,” he said. “We all know how special he is, but I think the thing that I am most impressed about is his work ethic. And I know his work ethic is insane because I know how much better he has gotten since the last time I played him.”
The next meeting between the Warriors and Spurs arrives on February 11 at Chase Center. Draymond Green said fans should expect more intensity. “Part 3” of the matchup is already circled.
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