Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas says “it’s a joke” that Warriors forward Draymond Green would call any player in the league dirty, given his track record. (Getty)
The two may not meet in the NBA Finals but there appears to be some bad brewing between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
After Golden State’s Draymond Green called Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk “a dirty player” on Uninterrupted’s “Dray Day” podcast Monday, Celtics star Isaiah Thomas responded, pointing out Green has no right to call any player dirty.
“It’s a joke that he said that,” Thomas told reporters after shootaround on Tuesday.
WATCH Thomas’ comments below:
Thomas may have been referring to Green’s propensity to “kick” other players as evidenced by his behavior in last year’s playoffs.
Of course, Green was infamously suspended for Game 5 of the NBA Finals with his team up 3-1 over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The suspension came after a series of incidents — including a kick beneath the belt to the Thunder’s Steven Adams during the Western Conference finals, as well as appearing to hit the Cavaliers LeBron James in the groin during Game 4.
Draymond Green kicks Steven Adams right in the unmentionables
Green also accumulated 13 technical fouls this past season.
Meanwhile, Green took issue with Olynyk — who was shoved to the ground by the Wizards Kelly Oubre Jr. in Game 3 after he leveled Oubre with a hard screen.
Olynyk was not penalized for the screen at all, while Oubre was forced to sit out Game 4 of his team’s series with the Celtics after retaliating.
“I don’t respect guys like that. I know he’s not the greatest basketball player of all time, so maybe he feel like he got to do that, but you don’t have to do that. Just dirty. I don’t respect that, man. He’s dirty,” Green said on the podcast.
Olynyk was responsible for pulling the left arm of Cavaliers forward Kevin Love during the 2015 playoffs, causing Love to dislocate his shoulder and undergo season-ending surgery.
Green — whose Warriors are awaiting the winner of the San Antonio/Houston series after sweeping the Utah Jazz in the second round — got wind of Thomas’ comments and responded via Twitter:
Thomas’ Celtics are tied 2-2 with the Wizards. The winner of that series meets the defending champion Cavaliers.