It’s no wonder that Draymond Green recalled the moment as his favorite from a wild game last Friday. He ended up witnessing a pretty amazing alley-oop dunk by Victor Wembanyama! The Golden State Warriors continued their long-running rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs, and what a game it was. Ultimately, the Warriors pulled out the close win, 109-108.
Green finished the game with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Here’s what he had to say about the dunk on a recent episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” He talked about how competitive that space was during last month’s matchup. Here’s the cool encounter he had with Wembanyama right before they both started squaring up in the post. Green’s point of view gives you some sense of how heated their debate was. A U.S. Soccer official monitored their exchanges carefully during the match.
The pivotal moment occurred with 7:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. On one inbounds play under the basket, Green was able to run over and defend Wembanyama as he received a pass from Stephon Castle. Wembanyama stood an incredible 7-foot-4. With remarkable quickness, Giannis turned to his left, grabbed the ball with his left mitt, and finished with a monstrous dunk over Green’s head. This play showcased Wembanyama’s remarkable athleticism and skill, as well as his ability to capitalize on opportunities in high-pressure situations.
Before the dunk, Green had already put Wembanyama on his back the last time down the floor with a stellar block. This shot of bravado provoked a little good-natured banter between the two players. Green actually anticipated Jimmy Butler receiving a lob from the backside on that action. He wasn’t used to being exposed by such quick movements as Wembanyama’s.
During the game, Wembanyama was unstoppable at times, finishing with a dominant stat line of 26 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. His mercurial influence proved doubly valuable in helping the Spurs measure up to the Warriors. Yet for all of Wembanyama’s contributions, it was Stephen Curry’s fourth-quarter fireworks that sealed the Warriors’ win. Curry dropped a mind-boggling 49 points to help lead his team to the comeback victory.
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