ABOVE: Draymond Green tells reporters he wouldn’t want to play for someone who called him an inmate. (Mark Medina, Bay Area News Group)
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The anger could be heard with Draymond Green’s loud voice and his disgusted body language. The subject matter dealt with more important things than any issues surrounding the Warriors (3-2) entering Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards (3-1) at the Oracle.
Green became upset with Houston Texans owner Bob McNair for describing NFL players that protest as “inmates” and explaining why he does not like players have knelt during the national anthem to protest racial inequality. According to an ESPN article, McNair reportedly said in an NFL owners meeting that “we can’t have the inmates running the prison.”
“I don’t think it should be up to him to change his behavior. They got a commissioner just like any other league,” Green said, referring to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “That’s ridiculous.”
Green then referenced President Donald Trump’s appearance at a rally last month when he used vulgar language to describe same NFL players that protested during the national anthem.
“First they were sons of bitches and now inmates?” Green asked rhetorically. “I know some inmates. They don’t pay taxes. They’re not community leaders. They’re not (Malcom) Jenkins flying to the White House, flying to DC, doing all these different things to make a difference. They’re not [Colin Kaepernick] donating $1 million. Come on man. Inmates? That’s unacceptable.”
Green had shared his initial misgivings on his Instagram post on Friday morning. There, Green called McNair’s language “very Donald Sterling-esque,” referring to the former Clippers owner that was heard on a recorded audio tape making racially insensitive comments in 2014. Green expounded on those thoughts following Friday’s morning shootaround.
“Will he react to it is the question?” Green said about Goodell. “I wouldn’t personally want to play for someone who viewed me as an inmate. I have done nothing in my life to be an inmate. In order to be an inmate, you’re either in the hospital or you’re in prison. I’m not in the hospital and I’m for damn sure not in prison.”
McNair has since released a statement on the Texans’ Twitter account, saying, “I regret that I used that expression.” McNair added that he “never meant to offend anyone and I was not referring to our players. I used a figure of speech that was never intended to be taken literally.”
Green took issue with that explanation, something he said he also heard from various people that commented on his Instagram post.
“Agree or disagree, figures of speeches aren’t OK in 2017,” Green said. “If I come out and give a figure of speech that’s not socially OK, I’m going to get fined. I’m going to get ridiculed. If I come out and give a figure of speech on anything, whether that’s race, whether that’s sexual orientation, whatever that is. If I come out and give a figure of speech in 2017, I’m going to get ridiculed by any group that’s formed to protect ones’ group. I’m going to be fined by the NBA. I’m going to be looked at ridiculously by the community. So why is that okay? I disagree with that.”
Green also disagreed with the criticism surrounding the protests in general. He praised Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins for “flying to the White House, flying to DC, doing all these different things to make a difference.” Green also complimented former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for “donating $1 million.”
“If you’re an inmate, you’re not playing,” Green said. “They pay taxes just like he pay taxes. If I’ve learned a little bit about business, maybe more. SO it’s a strong word to use about someone else’s kids again. It’s crazy.”
