“Felt Disrespected By Jacob Rubin’s Words”: Draymond Green Reveals Reason Behind Aggressive 20-Point Game 5 against Lakers

While Draymond Green is the Golden State Warriors’ backbone on the defensive end, it is not every day that we see the man have a huge night, scoring-wise. However, when the time requires, Dray sure does know how to flip the switch. On the brink of elimination, the former Defensive Player of the Year lodged 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals as the defending champs clinched a 121-106 Game 5 victory. Something that he apparently did to prove Jacob Rubin wrong.

Draymond Green tonight:

20 PTS
10 REB
4 AST
2 STL
7-11 FG

His first 20/10 playoff game since 2019. pic.twitter.com/sH5trfqOtf

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 11, 2023

Not even the team’s top 4 option scoring-wise, Green only trailed Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins as the Warriors 3^rd highest scorer during this game. While the 2023 All-NBA Second Defensive Team member has been effective all playoff long, the San Francisco-based franchise’s assistant coach did not feel so.

In order to prove Jacob Rubin wrong, Green was extremely aggressive on the offensive end.

“Definitely wanted to come out and set a tone”: Draymond Green

Shooting the ball at an impressive 63.6/50/100 split, the 4-time NBA champ’s 20-point display was his 2^nd  highest scoring performance of the 2022-2023 campaign. And Dub Nation might have Jacob Rubin to thank for the same.

According to the 33-year-old, prior to the game’s commencement, Rubin stated that he was yet to feel Draymond’s presence in the Western Conference Semifinals series yet. Taking Jacob’s criticism to his heart, the 6-foot-6 forward had to prove his coach wrong.

“I felt a little disrespected when he said it.”

While the assistant coach did play a huge role in sparking Green’s fire, the forward was already in the mindset to be aggressive.

“I definitely wanted to come out and set a tone. … Back’s against the wall, you gotta give everything you got.”

Draymond Green was on a mission to be aggressive:

“I definitely wanted to come out and set a tone. … Back’s against the wall, you gotta give everything you got.”

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 11, 2023

Good on Draymond Green for being able to prove Jocaob Ruin wrong in such an emphatic way. Now, all he has to do, is pull it off all over again. And this time it’ll have to be at the Lakers’ Crypto.com area.

How Dray can help the Warriors pull off a comeback?

Steve Kerr’s boys have been longing for an aggressive display, such as Game 5, from Green.

During the Golden State’s 3-1 comeback during the 2016 WCF, Green stepped up big in Games 5-7. Receiving more playing time, Draymond averaged 11.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game.

In order to mount a successful come-from-the-back series win, while Steph, Wiggins, and Thompson play consistently, the San Francisco-based franchise will require their defensive star to remain as aggressive as he was today.