Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Jamal & Draymond look back at their game after Donald Sterling tapes released #nba #hoops

22 Feb 2024 · 1 min

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In this brief interview segment, Draymond Green recounts the night the Donald Sterling racist recordings were released and the ensuing discussion among NBA players about possibly walking off the court in protest. Green confirms that the team considered refusing to play, which would have led to a jump‑ball lineup before a collective walkout. He notes that this was Adam Silver’s first major decision in the crisis. Green speculates that such a protest would have fundamentally altered the NBA’s landscape, giving athletes a stronger sense of ownership and stake in the league, an effect that could have endured beyond the players involved.

You remember when word got to us when all that happened, that if we walked out and didn't play, you guys was on board. Is that real? Were you guys really not gonna play if we didn't play?
100%. The recording came out with Donald Sterling. The game that night, if you go back and look, the game was us versus y'all. This was Adam Silver's first big decision he had to make. Yes, it was. And it was Donald Sterling with the Magic Johnson thing, the recordings coming out, the racist recording. And we were talking about what are we doing? Or if we don't approve, we're gonna go out there on the court, lining up for the jump ball, and we walking off.
What effect do you think it would've had, had we done that?
I think it changes the landscape of the NBA. I think it changes the landscape of how athletes view themselves in this whole business. We figured out more of our place, but we still don't have a stake in it. If we had made that move, I think we have stake in it right now.
So that's a move that could've outlived all of us.
100%. The game doesn't go on. It's over.