'He’d been in hospital every week,' Draymond Green wouldn’t DARE slap anyone in 90s, claims Kermit Washington

Kermit Washington had this to say on The Ryan Show:

Draymond Green would not do that 20-30 years ago... He wouldn't dare. I mean you had so many tough guys back then... you had Lonnie Shelton... Paul Silas... Truck Robinson, you had Clifford Ray. Every team had a tough guy... He would have been in a hospital every other week.

Recent incidents involving Draymond Green have stirred up controversy and debate about player conduct in the NBA. From his suspension for punching Jusuf Nurkic to putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold and tackling Terrance Mann to the ground, Green’s recent actions have been heavily criticized, raising questions about the current state of sportsmanship in the league.

Green’s aggressive play style has been a topic of discussion for years, with many arguing that it borders on unsportsmanlike conduct. Him punching and knocking out even his teammate Jordan Poole and his subsequent refusal to reconcile further highlights his volatile nature.

When Kermit Washington’s punch echoed through sports history

Kermit Washington’s personal experiences deeply influence his perspective, especially the notorious 1977 incident in which he punched Rudy Tomjanovich . This event, which nearly cost the latter his life, led to significant changes in how professional sports handle on-court violence.

The punch not only altered the careers of both Washington and Tomjanovich but also served as a wake-up call for professional sports leagues. It led to stricter penalties for fighting and a reevaluation of what constitutes acceptable behavior on the court.

Reflecting on this incident, Washington’s comments on Green’s behavior gain additional weight, suggesting a generational shift in the NBA’s approach to physical confrontations and player conduct.