Danny Green recalls Klay’s 2019 Finals injury and Warriors villain label originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s been about five years since Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, and Danny Green still thinks about the pain it caused him, the Warriors and his fan base.
Green, of course, accidentally caused the ACL tear when he fouled the Golden State guard on an emotional night in which the Raptors left Oracle Arena as NBA champions for the first time.
When speaking with Draymond Green on “Draymond’s Green ShowOn Friday, Danny recalled the play and the consequences that have since clouded his NBA career.
“I appreciate you, man,” Danny told Draymond. “I appreciate you inviting me. I’m glad there’s some kind of love on that side of the coast, well, I guess in the Bay Area. I was asked earlier today (I was making a hit on the radio), ‘Is there an organization that hates you?’ I couldn’t think of any until it was tweeted that I was on your show. And I’m like, ‘Damn.’ There’s only one organization where the fans say, ‘No.’ They’re not messing with that.
“But I understand. I understand it. Five years ago, I hoped some of them would forget it or let it go. I’m not a dirty player.”
The former Raptors guard knows very well how Dub Nation receives him. He is registered by wishing the play never happenedalso.
Fortunately, Thompson was able to return to the NBA, even after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in 2020, and help the Warriors defeat the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. taking some pressure off the three-time NBA champion, knowing that Thompson’s career wasn’t over and was instead thriving at the time.
Danny hopes Warriors fans can now see him in a better light since the dust has settled a bit. Golden State players who competed in the 2019 finals like Draymond and Andre Iguodala I never looked askance at Danny.neither, for what it’s worth.
Regardless, Danny made it clear that he has nothing but love for Dub Nation, and greatly admires Draymond for his resilience. real negativity from virtually every NBA fan every night.
“I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to be the villain every night in every scenario,” Danny told Draymond. “So, lots of flowers, lots of congratulations, brother. The only (fans) who don’t like me at all are Golden State fans, but still, much love to fans everywhere. There is no love lost.”
The Greens agree that there are no hard feelings about what happened in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Hopefully, Dub Nation can collectively unite in peace and harmony.
