Draymond Green Comments on Russell Westbrook, Flagrant Foul on Steven Adams

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green drew a flagrant-1 foul Sunday when he kicked Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams in the groin on the way to the basket.

Green spoke Monday about the controversial play that's been at the forefront in the aftermath of the Warriors' 133-105 loss, suggesting Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook did something similar.

"Russell Westbrook kicked me at the end of the half. He just didn't happen to catch me [where he caught Adams]," said Green, per ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss. Green added, "Russell said I did it on purpose, but he's a part of the superstar group that started all this acting in the NBA. I didn't. So, I sold the call."

"I've never been fined for one flop," Westbrook told reporters when informed of Green's comments. "I don't know how to flop."

"He has to bring somebody into it, take the heat off himself," Westbrook added.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dahntay Jones was suspended for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals for striking Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo. Green didn't feel the situation was comparable to his, per SI.com's Ben Golliver:

In a playoff diary with The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears, Green shared more details on the matter, in which he apologized to Adams and reflected on the possibility of a suspension:

"

I would tell [Adams], "My bad. I didn't try to do something like that." Honestly, I wanted to go up to him during the game and say that. But I know what type of competitor he is and I think I know how he would react. If he would have reacted the way I thought he would have reacted, I know what that would have done to me, as well. I just kind of erred on the side of not saying anything and was hopeful I may catch him after the game. I didn't intentionally kick him down there. ...

I'm kind of upset about this, "Will he get suspended or will he not?" It's just frustrating. Obviously, I hit [Adams] there in Game 2. But can anyone possibly say that was intentional. People might look at that and say, "He did it then — he tried to do [it again]." Would I be that obvious, if I'm trying to do it?

"

Green also spoke about the play after Game 3, via Uninterrupted:

Per ESPN.com, Green logged a minus-43 rating in Game 3, missing eight of nine shots from the field with four rebounds, three assists, one steal and four turnovers. That horrid stat line wasn't as ugly as the episode involving Adams, which unfolded with just less than six minutes remaining in the first half.

"It's happened before. Pretty accurate, that guy," Adams said of Green's kick, per USA Today's Sam Amick.

When asked Monday if an apology from Green would matter, Adams told reporters, "No. It wouldn't matter." Adams also said he feels fine but might wear extra protection "considering the consistency."

Adams also provided his thoughts on the play after having seen the replay, per Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman:

Per ESPN's Rachel Nichols, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr believes Green's flagrant foul should be rescinded. A ban isn't even on Kerr's radar, but the NBA will have a decision that could make or break Golden State's bid for back-to-back championships.

The Warriors can ill afford to lose Green even for one contest, as they trail the Thunder 2-1 and play on the road in Tuesday's Game 4.

Heading back to Oakland with a 3-1 deficit would be nearly impossible to overcome. Through last year's playoffs, only nine teams had ever won a series after trailing by that much.

Green is among the most dynamic defenders in the NBA and is as capable as anyone of challenging prolific Thunder scorer Kevin Durant, who torched Golden State for 33 points in Oklahoma City's Sunday rout.