Getty Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
It’s been 11 years since Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green suited up for the Michigan State Spartans. However, Green is still showing strong support for his alma mater as they compete for a national championship.
Michigan State secured their spot in the Sweet Sixteen on March 19, beating the No. 2-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles 69-60 in the second round of the East Region.
After the game, Green took to Instagram Stories to let a few former Golden Eagles, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Dwyane Wade, know that his Spartans are superior.
“There’s Mr. March,” Green said, speaking over the telecast of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and Spartan players shaking hands with Marquette players, many of whom were in tears after losing to MSU. “Tell ’em, Juan T [Toscano-Anderson]: Don’t cry. D-Wade, tell him, man: Don’t cry.”
Toscano-Anderson won a title with the Warriors last season. He then signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, who dealt him to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.
Draymond Green’s Strong Message on Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga
While Green’s college team may be cruising, the same can’t be said for the Warriors, who have lost three straight, including a March 18 blowout at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Though the loss was disappointing, the performance from 20-year-old Dubs forward Jonathan Kuminga was not. He led the team in scoring, tallying 24 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
Green praised the young star in the postgame press conference.
“I think his growth has been great,” Green said. “I think he’s right where you’d hope a guy would be at this point in his career — continuing to grow and get better. Understanding more. Becoming more and more reliable. I think that’s all you can ask for. As far as confidence, you just got to stay the course.
“It usually takes you a little longer to grow emotionally than it does from a skill perspective,” Green said. “And so, you expect him to keep growing there, and I know he will, but you also can appreciate the competitiveness. A guy wanting to do everything right.”
Warriors’ Stephen Curry Praises Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State’s star point guard, Stephen Curry, echoed the same message.
He praised the young star after the loss.
“The biggest thing is just competing on both ends of the floor,” Curry said. “Being decisive. Offensively, the way that they were defending us, he had good looks, and there was no second-guessing shots he was taking, which is great because you got to make them pay for the way they kind of shade on the rest of the side of the court. He has to be aggressive. So, when he’s out there, especially with certain lineups, he’s going to get those shots.
“You have to be assertive and decisive, and he did that really well. Especially early. [He] gave us a lot of life and energy. And then, the rest of it on defense, and just as energy. He’s just competing. No matter who he’s guarding, being within the structure of our defense, using his athleticism, and trying to do it without fouling, which is even more growth for him. So, to play as much as he did, he made an impact, and it was good for us.”