Draymond Green has a message for Udonis Haslem: keep that same energy.
The Golden State Warriors star went on his podcast and brought up Haslem’s name less than 24 hours after reports surfaced that Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro got into a physical altercation in Las Vegas. According to multiple outlets, the two went at it and Adebayo landed a punch on Herro. The Heat haven’t confirmed anything officially, but the NBA rumor mill is already running hot.
Green isn’t shocked by the fight itself. He’s more interested in how one specific person reacts.
“I remember when I got into it with Poole,” Green said, referring to his 2022 practice incident with Jordan Poole that got leaked on video. “I remember one person when the Jordan Poole incident happened with me who was really, really outspoken about it and it really bothered me, was Udonis Haslem.”
Haslem went on a media tour back then, calling Green’s actions unacceptable. He talked about how a veteran should never put hands on a young player. Green hasn’t forgotten.
“I saw UD get into it with guys on teams that was younger than him before. Ala Jimmy Butler,” Green continued. “Then he came out like ‘that’s ridiculous! You get into it with your young guy I would never. I can’t believe you did that.’ What is it, ‘Heat Culture or Heat way?’ Maybe they don’t have fights.”
Green then made it personal. He pointed out that Haslem mentored both Adebayo and Herro. They’re his guys. So if Haslem condemned Green for punching a teammate, does he do the same now that two of his own proteges are in the exact same situation?
“This is two guys Udonis Haslem raised,” Green said. “If you raised this young guy in the light of what you was saying about me, and now he punches this other young guy, that y’all kind of co-raised, are you going to have that same energy?”
Haslem’s track record with Heat teammates isn’t clean
Haslem has always been seen as the conscience of the Heat locker room. The guy who keeps everyone in line. But Green is right about one thing — Haslem has had his own scrapes with teammates. He got into it with Jimmy Butler during a practice years ago. That didn’t stop him from lecturing the rest of the league.
It’s not clear yet if Haslem has said anything about the Adebayo-Herro situation. He might just pull both guys aside and talk it out rather than pick a side. That would be the smart play.
Herro reportedly started the whole thing over some Instagram DMs, according to sources close to the situation. If that’s true, he’s going to have to answer for his role too. But for now, all eyes are on Haslem and whether he practices what he preaches.
Green made that part pretty clear.
Leave a Comment