The playoff series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors will have many interesting matchups. However, one that can be a low-key decisive matchup is the one between Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert. One thing is certain: Draymond is not a fan of Rudy. The two have been talking smack about each other for a while now. They have played only once against each other in the playoffs. But that was back in 2017, in the Western Conference Semifinals between the Warriors and Utah Jazz. So much has happened since.
Playoff Tension? History of Draymond Green Rudy Gobert Beef
Most of their beef has been about who is the better defender. Green won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017, while Rudy won it in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024. Most fans might not remember it, but during that 2017 playoff series, there were plenty of moments between Green and Gobert. For example, Rudy committed a flagrant on Draymond during garbage time in one of the games. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some key moments of the Draymond-Rudy beef.
The Crying Disaster
Things got a bit more personal between Rudy and Draymond in 2019. Gobert burst out in tears after being snubbed for the 2019 All-Star. After the viral video of Rudy crying, Draymond took to social media to post, “I guess I should cry too… no Charlotte”. Gobert then replied, “Like u cried in the parking lot for KD?”
The fun part is that the crying has been a topic between these two since. In 2022, while speaking on Inside the NBA, Green talked about the possibility of making the All-Star team. He said,
“One thing I can assure you: If I didn’t make it this year, I wasn’t going to cry. I can 100 percent assure you that. I mean, the man cried on national television when he didn’t make the All-Star team. Thank God he’s made the next three. You can’t cry, Chuck. I said it then, I’m gonna say it now.”
For context, Green is a four-time All-Star, while Gobert has made it three times. Green made the team in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Gobert made the team in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Insecurity is Always Loud
One of Draymond’s lowest points in his career was when he punched Jordan Poole before the start of the 2022-23 season. The Warriors were the defending champions, but the incident completely disrupted the locker room and the team dynamics. As a result, they weren’t able to defend their title. Gobert, taking a shot at Draymond, tweeted at the time, “Insecurity is always loud”.
Insecurity is always loud.
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) October 7, 2022
The problem was that six months later, Rudy was the one caught on camera punching a teammate. Green got his revenge and tweeted the exact same thing when the video showed Rudy punching Kyle Anderson in a huddle during the last game of the 2022-23 season.
Insecurity is always loud…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) April 9, 2023
The Fight!
In November 2023, a fight broke out between Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels. Rushing to separate everyone, Draymond Green choked Rudy Gobert and wouldn’t let him go for several seconds.
The NBA suspended Green for five games for “Grabbing Rudy around the neck in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner”. We can only hope that things will not get heated to that point during the Timberwolves–Warriors series. Fans do not need to watch two grown men making millions fight on the basketball court. With all the history between Draymond and Rudy, fans can hope for a heated matchup, but hopefully, without incidents.
Featured image: © Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
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