Why Perk believes Draymond should be suspended for Edey game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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The last thing the Warriors need is another Draymond Green suspension.
And that’s exactly what Kendrick Perkins thinks is necessary after Golden State’s latest controversial foul.
Green was initially called out for a “take” foul on Grizzlies center Zach Edey midway through the third quarter of the The 123-118 victory of warriors over Memphis on Friday at Chase Center before the foul was on upgraded to Flagrant 1 on Sunday.
Perkins, in Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take”, explained why he believes Green should be suspended for the violation.
“I actually think Draymond should be suspended for an extended period of time,” Perkins said. “We’re talking about a play where he pulled the opponent’s Achilles while the opponent was going in the opposite direction. And we’re talking about a guy, Zach Edey, who is [7-foot-4] probably 300 pounds. This could be a season-ending injury right here.
“And I understand, right, so many people are like ‘Oh, it’s a sticky situation because it’s Draymond.’ Some people on the other side, like me, say “Hey, this was a dirty play, he needs to be punished for it, he needs to be suspended” and there are others who say “Wait, let’s dive deeper into it, we don’t want to to do it like we’re catching Draymond.’ But if you ask me, he should be suspended for an extended period of time. There is no place, no place in our game for such actions.”
Edey, speaking to reporters after Friday’s game, said the foul “definitely wasn’t a basketball game.”
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins expressed his frustration with the play, which later prompted a social media response from Green.
While he probably won’t agree with Perkins’ claim that Green should be suspended, Warriors coach Steve Kerr at least agrees with the league’s decision to upgrade the foul to Flagrant 1.
“I agree with it; he caught him,” Kerr said Sunday of the updated foul. “Sure take evil, as they called. But I had no problem with it being updated to Flagrant 1. It’s not a basketball game. It was more than a “take” malicious.
The Warriors struggled during both of Green’s suspensions last season, and while further disciplinary action is unlikely at this point, another absence could certainly disrupt Golden State’s (10-3) hot start to the 2024-25 season.
