LeBron James Reflects on Draymond Green's Infamous Flagrant Foul in Historic 2016 NBA Finals
Ten years after perhaps the most famous NBA Finals win of his legendary career, LeBron James addressed the moment that is largely seen as swinging the series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.
Speaking to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, James was asked about Game 4 of the 2016 Finals and if he was cognizant of Draymond Green's technical-foul point total when he stepped over him, leading to the flagrant foul that got the Warriors star suspended for the next game:
"Yeah, of course. But that wasn't the reason that I did that. I think I set a screen, he fell, I'm getting back into the play and I stepped over him to get back into the play. It wasn't like I had scored and you know the way how guys step over their defender, like Allen Iverson. It was like, 'I'm trying to get back into the play. Every possession matters.'
"I think he thought that I was doing that as disrespect, but it's never been my forte. But of course, you know from watching the playoffs, everybody knows who the leader is in technicals. You watch the game, you know that. It worked in our favor, but it wasn't like I was going into the game saying, 'I know I can antagonize Draymond and get Draymond out of here so he won't play in Game 5.'"
The play occurred late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 when James and Green got tangled up. Green fell to the ground and as James stepped over him, he appeared to intentionally hit James in the groin.
Both players were called for fouls in the moment, but it wasn't until the NBA reviewed the play afterward that Green was assessed a Flagrant 1. Since it was his fourth flagrant foul point of the postseason, it triggered an automatic one-game suspension.
The Warriors won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead and were returning home with a chance to close out the series. Without Green, though, the Cavs stayed alive with a 112-97 victory in Game 5.
As James pointed out in his talk with McMenamin, Green was back for the final two games of the series and played well in Game 7.
"And he also was there for Game 6 and Game 7, too. He kicked our ass in Game 7," James said. "People need to stop saying, 'Oh, well Draymond was out.' He was there for 6 and 7."
Game 7 might have been the best performance of Green's career, especially given the stage. He put up 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. The problem for the Warriors was Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 31 points on 12-of-36 shooting.
Even though James insisted he wasn't trying to bait Green into anything, other players on that Cavs team have said they were well aware of his flagrant-foul points and tried to get a reaction that might get him suspended.
Green has been very open about feeling like he cost the Warriors that championship, but also remained clear he would still do exactly what he did in that moment.
"I take that on the chin. I cost us a championship. I'm fine with that. I can take that on the chin. No problem. I own up to my mistakes," Green said in 2022. "Would I do it again? One thousand percent. If somebody try to step over me, I'm going to hit them."
The Cavs remain the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals. They played the Warriors in the Finals in four consecutive seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
Cleveland's lone win was in 2016, but it is arguably the most famous Finals win for an NBA franchise in the past decade. It is, to date, the only championship win for the Cavs.
