Draymond Green’s Regret Dies Out As Shaquille O’Neal Responds To Fight Off Jusuf Nurkic

After what ensued on the court Saturday night between the Golden State Warriors Draymond Green and Phoenix Suns‘ center Jusuf Nurkić, the former turned to Shaq for support. Green, on his Instagram story, replied to Nurkic’s biting post-game remarks, stating, “What did I do to not deserve a chance? Severely outplay you? I should’ve hopped on @draymondshow tonight. This is madness.” He further tagged Shaquille O’Neal and The Big Podcast by Shaq to come to his rescue. However, with the Big Aristotle being away on Super Bowl duties, he could not record the podcast. Nonetheless, he extended his support through his recent Instagram story.

Shaq made it clear that he has his “favorite” player’s back, “Yall enjoy your day. My favorite player of all time stands on what I stand on!!” This is not the first time Shaq has voiced his support for Green. He condemned it the first time around as well when the league suspended Dray indefinitely for hitting Nurkić in the face. He was one of the few people who argued against Green needing counseling, asserting that there was nothing inherently wrong with him. Shaq even went as far as saying that the indefinite suspension was excessive, suggesting that the maximum he would consider was a two-game suspension. So, what really happened?

Draymond Green-Jusuf Nurkic on-court rivalry

Back in December, Draymond Green was suspended indefinitely for clocking Jusuf Nurkić on the head. Following this, the league reinstated him after a 12-game suspension, stating that he “demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players” during his suspension.

They met for the first time since the incident, and it is safe to say the sparks were flying from the onset of the game itself. The tension began to simmer early in the first quarter when Green received a foul. Moments later, Nurkic posted up against Green and was subsequently called for an offensive foul. Green reacted by flexing, sprinting down the court, and gesturing by tapping his head twice. Then, with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, Green received his first technical foul since his suspension for stomping his foot in frustration after a non-call.

Read More: Warriors vs Suns: Verbal War Breaks Out As Draymond Green & Jusuf Nurkic Take Ugly Beef Off-Court

Regardless of the on-court drama, it was Green and the Warriors who emerged victorious with a nail-biting 113-112 win, extending their winning streak to four. The Suns’ center had a subdued performance, tallying only six points, six rebounds, and four assists. Meanwhile, Green appeared rejuvenated and full of energy, contributing 15 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists to the Warriors’ victory.

Watch This Story: Charles Barkley Urges the Warriors to Beat Adam Silver in Wiping Out Draymond Green’s ‘Unnecessary Evil’ Tactics