OAKLAND, Calif. -- Draymond Green is aware that he has a temper, but the Golden State Warriors' All-Star power forward apparently didn't realize the extent of how his temper is perceived by others.
"I talked to my dad, my grandmother, every person I saw walking down the street, my mom, Everybody's like, 'Keep your cool. Keep your cool. Don't argue with the refs,'" Green revealed after winning the 2017 NBA Finals in five games over the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I had to ask myself: Is it that bad? Like does it look that bad? ... I'm in a grocery store [and] guy's like, 'Keep your cool.' I'm like, 'Jesus Christ,' this must be bad."
Green was called for four technical fouls this postseason and two came during the NBA Finals. He was second behind the Boston Celtics' Isaiah Thomas, who finished the postseason with six techs.
Last year, Green was suspended for Game 5 of the Finals due to accumulating too many flagrant foul points. The Cavaliers went on to win three games in a row to secure the franchise's first title.
Green was determined to be there for his team in Game 5 this time around. He wasn't going to allow his emotions to get the best of him on Monday.
"I had to have a real seminar with myself, like I must be out there looking bad," he questioned. "So, I just told myself I'm not going to worry about the officials. I'm just going to play the game."
He finished the evening with 10 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 44 minutes of play.
Green even took it a step further with his newfound poise.
Not only did he remain cool throughout the game, he kept it cool after the game. Originally, he was going to let some of the Cavaliers have it until he thought otherwise.
"I'm telling you, I had this whole document ready. I was ready to bash everybody. But I have too much respect for them," Green said. "The things that they bring to the floor, a great leader in LeBron [James] and Kyrie [Irving], that's where the help comes. Because at the end of the day, it's basketball. I think that so many times we let outside things make it more than that. It's basketball."
