Shaq admitted that he didn’t feel like Draymond Green stomping on Domantas Sabonis was that far out of line.
During Monday night’s Game 2 against the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected for stomping on Kings center Domantas Sabonis’s torso.
Sabonis hit the floor near Green, putting his hands up near his head to protect himself. His hands entangled with Green’s foot, which Green took exception to because he felt like his leg got, “grabbed.”
Here’s a video of the incident:
Green explained that he simply, “needed to put his foot somewhere,” but that he’s not flexible enough to avoid a player on the ground.
Domantas Sabonis underwent X-rays following the incident to assess damage to his ribs and lungs, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The tests came back revealing he avoided injury.
In the fallout, there were all sorts of reactions, especially considering Green’s reputation for being a so-called dirty player. To some, this was another mark in that ledger.
One commentator came right to Green’s defense, though.
Shaq comes to Draymond Green’s defense in stomping incident
As you might expect, the NBA on TNT crew had lots to say about the incident. Unsurprisingly, most of the crew unanimously agreed that the play was a dirty one. Shaq qualified his opinion.
“[I’m not] going to sit up here and be a hypocrite, I would do the same thing. I really would. Don’t be grabbing me, because what am I gonna do? Like if I stay there and just try to run forward I’ll fall. You gotta get him up off you.”
Shaq did admit that the play wasn’t exactly a routine one though, saying, “Was it a dirty play? Of course it was a dirty play.”
O’Neal might be the best equipped to give us some insight into what a player like Green was to do. O’Neal was a big player as well with less mobility than most, and his defense of Green makes you think twice about it.
However, there’s a huge difference between finding a place to put your foot, and forcefully slamming it down. Green chose the latter.
“That’s it, well don’t grab me,” Shaq said.