Draymond Green Laments Suspension Costing Him 2016 NBA Finals MVP
2016 Finals Suspension Likely Kept GSW Star Off NBA 75
By Alex Didion Published October 22, 2021
Draymond Green believes his suspension in the 2016 NBA Finals cost him the MVP award. Green was suspended for Game 5 of the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers after accumulating too many flagrant foul points. The Warriors went on to lose the series in seven games.
"I think about it all the time," Green said in an interview with ESPN. "I think about how I let my team down. I think about how I let myself down. I think about how I let the fans down. It's something that I'll never forget."
Green was averaging 14.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game in the 2016 Finals. He was a key part of Golden State's success that season, helping them win their first NBA championship in 40 years.
However, Green's suspension in Game 5 changed the course of the series. The Warriors lost that game by 15 points, and they never recovered. They went on to lose the next two games and the series.
Green believes that if he had been able to play in Game 5, the Warriors would have won the championship. He also believes that he would have been named the Finals MVP.
"I know I would have won the MVP," Green said. "I was playing the best basketball of my life. I was doing everything for my team. I was leading them in every way I could."
Green's suspension is a reminder of how even the smallest mistakes can have a major impact on the outcome of a game. It's also a reminder of how important it is for players to stay disciplined and focused on the task at hand.
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