Draymond Green had mixed emotions after the Warriors beat the Grizzlies on Tuesday night at FedExForum.
While Green was happy about a critical win for Golden State, he said postgame he was disappointed in Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who — like Green — played collegiately at Michigan State.
“I’m disappointed in Jaren," Green said. "You know I’ve got a lot of love for him, that’s my Spartan dog. He’s too good to still be getting in foul trouble. A couple of them fouls he picked up, he can stay away from them. It’s time for him to take that next step in that department. Because it was huge for us for him to get out of the game. I’m happy he did, but I’m a Jaren fan. I’m always rooting for him. And to see him still getting some of those fouls that he’s picking up, he can’t do that. His team needs him out there.”
Jackson, Memphis' All-Star, struggled with foul trouble all night against the Warriors and didn't play the final 1:55 after fouling out. It was a one-point game when Jackson fouled out, but the Warriors pulled away for an eventual 134-125 win.
Green had 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Jackson had 22 points and seven rebounds.
Green said he was happy during the game to see Jackson fouling, but the "big brother" in him was disappointed after the game.
"Every foul he picked up, I was happy during the game," he said. "But there’s a part of me thinking, ‘You can’t do that.’ When he picked up the fifth one, I literally walked to (Grizzlies guard Desmond) Bane on the bench and said, ‘Bane, that’s crazy. That’s ridiculous.’ Jaren can’t do that, man. Jaren’s too good of a player to still be doing that. So, like I said, I was happy the fouls were happening during the game, but now that it’s over he can’t continue to do that. He’s too good of a player to be taking himself out of games like that.”
Tuesday's game was critical because it had major implications on playoff seeding in the Western Conference. The Warriors (44-31) passed the Grizzlies (44-32) for fifth place in the conference and now have the tiebreaker because they've won the season series 3-1.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Draymond Green ...
