“I was so pi**ed, I wanted to wring Mike’s neck at the time,” said Cuttino Mobley, when describing how a decision by Mike Dunleavy Sr cost the LA Clippers a game in the 2006 Western Conference Finals. The former player hasn’t been the only one to come out and speak out against the head coach. Despite carving out a head coaching career that spanned two decades, Dunleavy’s on-court strategies didn’t always make him popular, especially in the eyes of the players whom he was leading. Enter, Draymond Green!

Years later, one of them continues to blame the former official for one of Blake Griffin’s significant injuries. A belief he was recently open to sharing with Draymond Green. 2x NBA All-Star Baron Davis was a guest on the recent episode of ‘The Draymond Green Show.’ He discussed his tenure with the LA Clippers, which coincided with Mike Dunleavy and Blake Griffin’s tenure too. During a game of the 2009-10 preseason, Davis revealed how he and Griffin were benched.

Then, as the game reached its 4 quarter, Dunleavy brought both players in. Green took the rest of the story in with a surprised expression on his face. After all, the coach surprisingly brought in the two scorers during the 4th quarter of a preseason game! However, despite Davis’ objection, they did nothing. “Blake Griffin hurt his knee,” said Davis. Shocked, Green exclaimed, “Wow, is that what happened?”

Davis continued, “That is what happened. He put him back in the game, in the preseason, and that’s how our sh*t got fu**ed up.” After putting up the clip on the official IG account of his show, Green then highlighted it on his own personal Instagram story. Looking to make his intentions known, the Warriors star jokingly wrote a caption that read “Mike don’t trade me… it’s BD talking about your Pops… not me”, accompanied by a shrug emoji.

This remark was, of course, a reference to Mike Dunleavy Jr, who currently serves as the General Manager of the Golden State Warriors. After giving the entirety of his 12-year NBA career to the Bay Area, the power forward now wants to avoid seeking a fresh start with another team.

The injury Blake Griffin sustained in the preseason certainly made headlines in 2009. After all, the player broke the kneecap on his left cap. After doctors performed surgery on Griffin to treat the ailment, they ruled him out indefinitely. As a result, the player missed the entirety of his rookie season!

Now, 15 years later, the event reveals more information, putting Mike Dunleavy Sr as the story’s alleged villain. Many would have experienced the emotions Draymond Green felt upon hearing the story. However, not everyone plays in the same team, with Dunleavy Sr’s son serving as GM. Therefore, the four-time champion may be right in covering his tracks.

Fortunately, Mike Dunleavy Jr. may not get angry at Draymond Green so easily. After all, with Klay Thompson gone, the power forward’s value is more prominent now than ever. Furthermore, if the GM wasn’t ready to cut ties with Green during his physical altercations last year, then nodding to Baron Davis’ story certainly isn’t enough.

Mike Dunleavy Jr stood behind Draymond Green after his suspension: “Looking to turn it into a positive”

Draymond Green often taking things physical wasn’t something NBA enthusiasts hadn’t already seen. From punching LeBron James to also hitting his teammate Jordan Poole at one point, such incidents were public knowledge. However, the Warriors star took things a bit too far last year after he put Rudy Gobert into a chokehold. Upon returning from his suspension, Green then hit Jusuf Nurkic. This caused the authorities to suspend him indefinitely.

Under normal circumstances, the Warriors staff would have started looking for ways to cut ties with the player. However, Mike Dunleavy Jr. chose to stand behind the player.

“I think this is something that a lot of people may see as a problem, but we’re looking to turn it into a positive,” said the General Manager. “(Green is at) a point in his career and his life where we want to get some things straightened out, and maybe sometimes you need a jolt like that. But I think it’s been very positive, very open, and (we’re) extremely optimistic that we can get to where we need to go.”

Several Warriors players would be considered for a trade in the future. On that list, Draymond Green may end up as the 2 last option, right behind Stephen Curry. After all, if nothing has happened till now, then what can happen next? Therefore, the power forward may hold the independence of agreeing to any opinions he likes.