On Sunday, June 12, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors was suspended from Game 5 of the NBA Finals due to his fourth flagrant 1 foul. This foul was committed against Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 on Friday, June 10, in front of more than 16.4 million viewers. However, Green’s suspension wasn’t decided until Sunday. NBA defines a flagrant 1 foul as an “unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent.”
According to ESPN, Green took a “retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin.” James tried to step over Green, causing the swipe, and some trash talk after the physical contact. Several press conferences were held following Green’s suspension. In Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson’s interview, he stated, “Guys talk trash in this league all the time. I’m just shocked some people take it so personal.”
Green’s act of aggression may or may not be a factor in the Warriors losing Game 5 on Monday night, which forces a Game 6 tonight in Cleveland.
As teens, there are several places where we have to contain our aggression. I interviewed a couple of Atlanta-area teens who are currently participating in VOX Media Cafe, to get their take on the scuffle and how they handle aggression in their daily lives — whether it is in a sport setting, school setting or home setting.
Quincy Jean-Louis, 15
“I provoke the other person. I try to get under their skin.” Quincy says [former Indiana Pacer] Lance Stephenson is his inspiration in that defense aspect [Stephenson famously taunted LeBron James by blowing in his ear during the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals].
Emma Farnham, 17
In a school environment, Emma says, “I like to usually stay out of it and not react. I try to take the higher ground.”
Jharionne Anderson, 15
“I’m not the petty person. I’m not the person that’s going to say something direct on Snapchat. At the same time, if I feel someone is being disrespectful toward me, then I’m going to get upset.”
Skylar Bass, 16
Regarding Green, “Lebron shouldn’t have stepped over him in the first place. He just reacted. I don’t think he [Green] should have been suspended. I think Lebron should have been suspended.”
Speak up and tell VOX what you think by writing to media@voxatl.org.
Dasia Evertsz is a 17-year-old feminist who attends Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School.
