Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green Rips Bill Self’s Late-Game Strategy in Kansas vs. St. John’s

23 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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In a post‑game interview, Draymond Green analyzes Kansas’ loss to St. John’s, focusing on head coach Bill Self’s decision to foul repeatedly in the final seconds, sending the team into the penalty. Green explains the theoretical intent behind intentional fouls—using the clock to force a low‑percentage shot—but argues that Self’s execution was flawed because the fouls were excessive, left Kansas without defensive options, and ultimately cost the game. Green also highlights Bryce Hopkins as the decisive player, crediting him with making every crucial shot and play in the closing moments, and gives him a shout‑out for his clutch performance.

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The St. John's at Kansas game was an interesting one down the stretch because I thought to have 2 or 3 fouls and foul all the way up to 6 where you're now in the penalty, I thought Bill Self fouling that much, like I understood the theory behind the fouls and I actually think it was a good theory to run some clock, but let them run a little more clock, then take the foul. So you're just not fouling, fouling, fouling. You get it down to 4 seconds left. The guy who's guarding the ball can't put any ball pressure on the ball because he can't take the chance to foul. Everybody's like, oh man, he gave up a straight line drive. You can't give up a straight line drive. Yes, you're correct. You can't give up a straight line drive. But how stupid do they look if he all of a sudden, now he's sitting down, he guard, they fouled all the way into the penalty, and then he mistakenly bumps the guy, the guy fall over, he get free throws. How crazy does that kid look? And so I think it was ridiculous to foul that much to go into the penalty and then have to play defense on this last possession in the penalty and can't use your hands, can't do anything. I think that was crazy. Ultimately, it cost him the game. One thing I hate is, you know, this guy hadn't hit a shot all night. He hit one shot and everybody's like, "Oh man, he's the hero." Bryce Hopkins was the hero. Bryce Hopkins made every play down the stretch, every shot down the stretch that he needed to make. So shout out to him. Yeah.