While it seems like a lifetime ago, the Kings went on a heck of a run in the 2022-2023 season. They finished with a record of 48 and 34 as well as their first trip to the playoffs since 2006. It might be their last for a while.
That playoff run was memorable for a couple of reasons. The Kings lost in the first round but the series went to seven games, giving the Kings their first playoff victories in a very long time.
On top of that, It was during this series that Domantas Sabonis and Draymond Green got into a scuffle that ended with Green infamously stomping on Sabonis' chest. More than two years later, Green is still trying to defend his actions.
Draymond Green plays hard, old-school basketball
It wasn't a complicated situation at all. Both Draymond and Sabonis were tangled up after Stephen Curry picked up a rebound. Sabonis latched on to Draymond's leg and wouldn't let go. Green responded by stomping on Sabonis's chest.
To be fair to Green, Sabonis should not have been hanging off his leg like that. It was a foul, to be sure. Still, trying to literally stomp out the opposition isn't exactly the right way to handle the situation.
That's Draymond being Draymond. He plays tough and doesn't pull his punches. And that's with his own teammates. His opponents get choked out or receive spinning back fists on the court. He's been better since the league forced him into anger management, but that's a relative statement.
Draymond Green defends his actions
More than two years later, Draymond Green was on his podcast talking about the incident and defending his actions. Basically, it came down to Sabonis grabbed him first and that makes what he did in response justified. The phrase he used was 'gotta get him back.'
Again, Green isn't wrong about Domantas being the instigator. He crossed the line and received a technical foul. For the stomp, Green was assessed a flagrant-2 foul and was automatically ejected.
Green's 'gotta get him back' defense is the kind of logic eight-year-old's use when their little brother takes their favorite toy. It doesn't make attacking someone okay. For Green, not taking responsibility for his actions is as synonymous with his style of play as such violent incidents.
It's part of his charm.