Dillon Brooks blames ‘dirty’ Draymond Green for having a hand in Jimmy Butler’s injury

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has often been labeled a 'dirty' player, as he resorts to some antics to try and unsettle opponents.


Dillon Brooks blames ‘dirty’ Draymond Green for having a hand in Jimmy Butler’s injury

Dillon Brooks calls Draymond Green a 'dirty' player

Draymond Green has often had to live with the moniker of a ‘dirty’ player. The Golden State Warriors star has used his hustle and energy to get the better of his opponents. At the same time, his antics have managed to grab headlines wherever he plays.

His flailing hands and legs have knocked the wind out of players. But he always pleaded his innocence in those situations. Sometimes referees slap a technical foul or a flagrant foul. Then there are times when he gets away with it.

During the Warriors’ second road game against the Houston Rockets, Green’s antics were visible. He was using his hands and legs to set the tone against the young and physical squad. Some antics worked, some did not. Then his teammate Jimmy Butler crashed hard onto the floor.

But that was because Rockets star Amen Thompson inadvertently clipped him while he was in the air trying to grab a rebound. Fans and media have focused on Thompson’s inability to avoid contact. But his teammate Dillon Brooks thinks something else was at play.

I think the dirty player is Draymond, giving him a little push. Amen has anything to do with a dirty player. We are not worried about that. We hope Jimmy can get better.

Dillon Brooks said

The Rockets forward was trying to suggest that Draymond Green pushed Amen Thompson onto Jimmy Butler’s path. Replays of the incident do not show a push, however, Thompson’s leg did get caught up behind Green’s, which probably threw him off balance.

Steve Kerr scoffs at Dillon Brooks’ claims

News of this claim from Dillon Brooks soon spread like wildfire. Fans know that Draymond Green does play dirty. But in this case, video replays do not show any signs of a push or a shove from the four-time champion. That is why, when Brooks’ statement reached Steve Kerr‘s ears, he had an epic reaction.

Dillon said that? Huh… Interesting.

Steve Kerr said

The four-time NBA champion coach had a wry smile on his face when the reporter told him that the Rockets forward called Draymond Green, played ‘dirty’ on that play. He scoffed at the idea that Brooks would say that, considering his reputation is that of a dirty player.

No one has caught more heat than Dillon Brooks over the past few years. That is primarily because of his dirty plays and attempts to try and be the villain. Most of the time, it has backfired. That is why Steve Kerr was surprised that a dirty player such as Brooks would call other players dirty.

NBA hands Draymond Green an award after missing out on DPOY

His antics aside, Draymond Green is known for his defensive prowess. As a player who is not great at scoring, he has used his defensive intelligence coupled with his playmaking to become a future Hall of Famer.

This season, he staked his claim to win his second Defensive Player of the Year award. Excellent performances against Giannis Antetokounmpo and a few others helped him rise up the DPOY charts. But the Golden State Warriors’ end-of-season performance saw him slide down the rankings to finish third.

But the NBA had another award in mind for the 35-year-old. They awarded him the NBA Hustle Award. As per the league, it is an award that is given to a player whose effort plays help their team succeed even if it does not appear on the stat sheets.

This adds another individual accolade to the Michigan native. He came in as a second-round pick, but has used his intelligence to become a core part of the Warriors’ dynasty. These awards should help speed up his route to the Naismith Hall of Fame.

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