Draymond Green's agent rips NBA on 'unnatural' acts
The agent for Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is not happy about how the league looks at his client in regards to committing fouls deemed "unnatural" acts.
Green was again the subject of scrutiny after he received a Flagrant 1 foul when he kicked Houston Rockets guard James Harden in the face during Thursday night's loss.
The league office said the leg kick was an “unnatural leg extension.”
Green's agent, former NBA guard B.J. Armstrong, told USA Today that he can't recall a time when the league actually made rules to help improve the game.
"People flail, people do things, and their bodies respond in certain ways," Armstrong said. "I think it (the play with Harden) is a no-call. ... When I played, I would never, ever try to run Reggie Miller off the line because I knew Reggie. If I ran at him, and I was trying to run him off the line, I was going to get kicked. I knew that, and people around the league knew that. And players always adjust."
• Harden states MVP case, Responds To Draymond Green's 'Unnatural' comments
Harden said his technique isn't unnatural after Green called into question his playing tactics.
“I wouldn’t call it unnatural,” Harden said. “For me, I just go to the basket and go up with two hands like you’re taught. If you grab my arm it’s a foul. That’s pretty natural in the sport of basketball, in any league. I don’t know about whatever else [Green] has got going on.”
Green, a two-time NBA All-Defensive first team selection, has said he is a "marked" man because of his play, saying, "A lot of these guys that make the rules can’t touch the rim, yet they tell you how you’re way up there in the air which way your body (should go)."
"Let’s listen to what the people who are actually performing in the game need, OK?" Armstrong said. "As a parent, when I fail to listen to my kids, when our kids stop bringing us our problems, we have all failed as parents and as leaders. That’s how I felt, really, when I read (the league’s stance)."
Green is averaging 10.6 points and 8.8 rebounds this season for Golden State, which has the best record in the NBA.
- Scooby Axson