{"id":705042,"date":"2026-04-08T10:50:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/705042\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T10:50:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:50:23","slug":"warriors-draymond-green-has-strong-words-after-kings-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/705042\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors’ Draymond Green Has Strong Words After Kings Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Draymond\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors had two teams on his radar at the trade deadline amid Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks. <\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors<\/a> picked up a hard-fought 110-105 win over the Sacramento Kings<\/a> on Tuesday night at Chase Center, snapping a four-game losing streak. Stephen Curry<\/a> scored 17<\/a> off the bench in his second game back. Brandin Podziemski<\/a> hit the go-ahead three late<\/a>. Charles Bassey<\/a> was sensational with 14 points and 12 rebounds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But it was what happened on the Kings\u2019 end of the floor in the closing minutes that set Draymond Green<\/a> off.<\/p>\n

Sacramento, already eliminated from playoff contention, began deliberately fouling Seth Curry<\/a> in the final minutes with the outcome essentially decided. It was a transparent attempt to run out the clock and protect draft positioning. Green noticed. And after the game, he had plenty to say.<\/p>\n

Draymond Fires at the League\"Draymond<\/p>\n

GettyDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n

Green addressed reporters after Tuesday\u2019s win and did not hold back on two topics that have clearly been on his mind.<\/p>\n

The first was tanking. The Kings\u2019 deliberate fouling strategy in the closing minutes was the kind of move that Green finds both transparent and infuriating.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go in the game for no reason,\u201d Green said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His proposed solution was equally direct. The NBA<\/a> has fined players for all manner of infractions over the years. Green sees no reason why teams should be treated any differently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get fined when I do wrong,\u201d Green said<\/a>. \u201cJust fine the hell outta people. They love taking money from players. Keep fining teams. I\u2019ve seen two fines. As players, they snatch that money in a heartbeat. Why isn\u2019t it the same?\u201d<\/p>\n

The frustration behind the quote is easy to understand. The Warriors are fighting for their playoff lives in the play-in tournament while other teams are deliberately losing games to improve their lottery odds. The competitive imbalance that creates is something Green clearly believes the league is not addressing aggressively enough.<\/p>\n

Draymond Green on tanking: “I get fined when I do wrong. Just fine the hell outta people. They love taking money from players. Keep fining teams. I’ve seen two fines. As players, they snatch that money in a heartbeat. Why isn’t it the same?”https:\/\/t.co\/21wyXCiDSl<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Green Turns His Sights on the Play-In<\/p>\n

The tanking conversation led naturally into a broader critique of the play-in tournament itself. Golden State is locked into the tenth seed and will need to win two elimination games just to reach the playoffs. Green does not believe that is how it should work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it worked initially, and now to have a team stuck in 10th, it ain\u2019t working,\u201d Green said<\/a>. \u201cSo we could have lost our last 15 games and been stuck in 10th, it ain\u2019t working.\u201d<\/p>\n

The argument is straightforward. The play-in was designed to keep more teams engaged late in the season and reward those who finished strong. But when a team\u2019s seeding is locked in regardless of results, the format loses its purpose. The Warriors have no incentive to win or lose their remaining regular season games in terms of where they will play their first elimination game.<\/p>\n

Green has never been one to stay quiet when he sees something he believes is broken. Tuesday night gave him two things to fix.<\/p>\n

What It Means for the Warriors\"Stephen<\/p>\n

GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n

Golden State improved to 37-42 with the win and has three regular season games remaining before the play-in begins. The Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> have clinched at least the ninth seed, meaning the Warriors\u2019 first elimination game will come against either the Clippers or the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>, depending on how the final week of the regular season shakes out. The Phoenix Suns<\/a> are also likely locked into the play-in as the seventh seed, rounding out what shapes up as a competitive field.<\/p>\n

The win over the Kings was encouraging in spots. Podziemski and De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/a> both scored 21<\/a> and 20 points<\/a> respectively. Bassey continues to look like a genuine find. Curry is getting his legs back under him game by game.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis<\/a>, Al Horford<\/a>, and Gui Santos<\/a> all remain out but are expected to return before the play-in begins. If healthy, this team looks considerably different than the one that has been grinding through the back end of the regular season.<\/p>\n

Final Word for the Warriors<\/p>\n

Green said what a lot of players around the league are thinking. The tanking is real. The play-in has limitations. The fines are not steep enough to change behavior.<\/p>\n

Whether the league listens is another matter entirely.<\/p>\n

For now, the Warriors have a win. The play-in is approaching fast.<\/p>\n

Three games left. Then the real ones begin.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKeith Watkins<\/a> Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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