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Draymond Green Won’t Throw Opening Pitch At Oakland A’s Game — Suspended Golden State Warriors Star Will Watch Game 5 Of The NBA Finals At The Baseball Game

By Shaunee Flowers
Published on: 11:26 PST, Jun 13, 2016

If he’s not playing basketball, Draymond Green doesn’t want to play. The trouble-making Golden State Warriors power forward will be sitting out Game 5 of the NBA Finals after taking a cheap shot at LeBron James. Green isn’t allowed in Oracle Arena due to his suspension, so the pro-baller will be spending the game next door at the A’s game instead.

Since he’ll be sitting in a suite at the Oakland A’s vs. Texas Rangers game anyway while he watches his own team compete for the NBA championship, Draymond Green was invited to throw out the first pitch according to TMZ. According to the report, A’s Director of Corporate Communications, Catherine Aker admitted that she reached out to Green and offered him an opportunity to take the field during the A’s game.

“We extended an invitation to Draymond to throw out the first pitch and he declined. He would prefer to keep a low profile while at our game.”

Due to his suspension, Draymond Green is not allowed inside Oracle Arena for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob petitioned to at least allow Green in the stands for what could be the final game of the series. In keeping up with NBA regulation, Green will not be allowed in the building during the game.

Instead, he will be next door at O.co Stadium watching the Oakland A’s vs. Texas Rangers game from a suite. Green will also reportedly be watching his own team, the Golden State Warriors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in what might be the last game of the NBA Finals. The Warriors are currently leading the series against the Cavs by 3-1. If the Warriors beat the Cavs without Draymond Green tonight, he will be allowed to come into Oracle Arena after the game to celebrate the championship with his team.

Draymond Green was suspended after NBA officials reviewed Game 4 and decided that Green committed a flagrant foul against LeBron James. During an especially tense moment between Green and James, the Cleveland Cavaliers star stepped over Green, giving him the opportunity to take a cheap shot and swing at LeBron James’ groin. That led to more arguing between James and Green, earning James a technical foul as well.

There has been a lot of talk about whether Draymond Green deserved to be suspended for Game 5 of the NBA Finals or not. Considering that he’s been taking cheap shots throughout the NBA Playoffs, including when he kicked Steven Adams in the groin during the Western Conference Finals, these constant cheap shots can’t just be ignored. There has also been an argument made that the Draymond Green suspension is the NBA’s way to extend the NBA Finals and obviously earn a lot more money before the season is over.

It’s unfortunate that Draymond Green won’t be taking part in the NBA Finals game that might clinch the title for his team. He is lucky to be allowed back in the building after the game in case his teammates are celebrating a win, but it seems more likely that with Green out of the picture, LeBron James will step it up and take the series back to Cleveland for at least one more.

Do you think Draymond Green should have thrown out the first pitch at the Oakland A’s game next door or is he right to keep a low profile and get back in the game as soon as possible? Tell us what you think of the tension between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA Finals in the comments section below.

[Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images]

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