In November 2023, during a regular season game between the Warriors and Timberwolves, things got wild fast, leaving fans and players shaken. Less than two minutes into the game, Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels got into it, but the real shock came when things escalated. It wasn’t even about Draymond Green or Rudy Gobert at first. Rudy stepped in to try and cool things down, holding Klay back, but then Dray swooped in out of nowhere and put Rudy in a headlock, almost choking him. That move ended up getting Draymond suspended, and the whole situation left everyone buzzing.

Recently, Karl-Anthony Towns spoke about the altercation on the ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast with Shannon Sharpe. When Sharpe asked what sparked the drama between Rudy and Dray, KAT kept it real. He said he was just as shocked as everyone else at how it all went down. “I was surprised when it happened too … I feel like everyone in there was like, ‘Wait, is this really happening right now?” Towns said, reflecting on the chaotic moment.

From what he observed, it seemed like Rudy was only trying to hold Klay Thompson back, but Draymond took things to a whole different level. The headlock caught everyone off guard, leaving people wondering if there was more to the situation. Sharpe, sensing there might be deeper feelings at play, asked the pressing question: “What’s the animosity between Draymond and Rudy… did Draymond feel that Rudy got some Defensive Player of the Year awards that belonged to him?”

Karl-Anthony Towns reflected on the altercation between Rudy Gobert and Draymond Green during his appearance on the ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast with Shannon Sharpe. When asked about any possible animosity between the two, KAT was candid. “I don’t know… to be honest, I just… you know you always hear the hoopla, and we just always… we’re just tuning everything out,” he said. “Like I said, I was surprised when it happened too. I feel like everyone in there was like, ‘Wait, is this really happening right now?’ And we’re all trying to separate Draymond from Rudy and the whole situation.”

What really stood out, though, was KAT’s insight into Rudy’s reaction after the incident. While many might expect lingering frustration or anger, Towns revealed the opposite. “For those who don’t know Rudy Gobert, “he laughs about it… he jokes around about it, so it’s not like he’s really salty, you know, he gets aggravated… he laughs, and jokes himself about it,” he shared. Towns admired how Rudy handled the situation, adding, “I think it just shows his character… he just enjoys what he does, and he cares about his craft and cares about his team.”

From chirping to headlock: Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert’s beef history

Their paths continued to cross on the court, with moments like Draymond laughing at Rudy after he fell during a 2022 game. Off the court, their rivalry only grew more complicated, especially after Rudy’s incident with his teammate, Kyle Anderson, when he threw a punch during a heated exchange. Ironically, this echoed Draymond’s punch to teammate Jordan Poole, drawing uncomfortable comparisons between the two. Draymond’s reaction to Rudy’s outburst was sharp, tweeting, “Insecurity hits loud,” keeping the rivalry alive through social media.

And then, the culmination: Draymond putting Rudy in a chokehold during their 2023 game. The intensity of that moment didn’t just come from one incident—it was years of brewing competition, rivalry, and personal jabs. While things seem quiet for now, you can’t help but wonder if the fire between them has truly burned out, or if it’s just waiting for the next spark when the two meet again.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.