*Draymond Green, suspended for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, is expected to watch his Golden State Warriors’ attempt to win a second straight NBA title from the O.co Coliseum next door to Golden State’s Oracle Arena on Monday, a source told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears.
Suspension rules prevent Green from stepping foot inside the building Monday night when the Warriors, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, face the Cleveland Cavaliers. If a player attends a game while suspended, he faces a $2,000 fine.
So Green plans to watch the Finals game from a suite in the Oakland Athletics’ stadium, the source said. The A’s host the Texas Rangers Monday, with the first pitch set for 10:05 p.m. ET.
TMZ is reporting that the A’s offered Green the chance to throw out the first pitch, but he declined.
TMZ Sports spoke with A’s Director of Corporate Communications, Catherine Aker, who confirmed Green will be in the stadium … but doesn’t want to make a spectacle.
“We extended an invitation to Draymond to throw out the first pitch and he declined. He would prefer to keep a low profile while at our game.”
Green will reportedly be allowed inside the arena to celebrate with his team if they win — and it just so happens there is a tunnel which connects O.co Coliseum to Oracle Arena.
Green was suspended after he was assessed a flagrant foul 1 by the league for his actions in Game 4. The play that drew the flagrant foul came with less than three minutes left in Golden State’s 108-97 victory over the Cavaliers on Friday, when Green and LeBron James got tangled. James stepped over Green after the Warriors forward fell to the court, and Green swung his arm and appeared to make contact with James’ groin area. James immediately turned around, and the two players went chest-to-chest as play continued.
The NBA called Green’s action a “retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin” of James.
The flagrant 1 gave Green his fourth flagrant of the playoffs, which carries an automatic suspension. It also comes with a docked game check, which would cost him about $140,000.
The NBA also announced that Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has been fined $25,000 for his public criticism of the officiating after Cleveland’s Game 4 loss.
In reaction to the suspension, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook dropped the Warriors from a 6.5-point favorite to a 6-point favorite.
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