These two always seem to wind up clashing.
It’s no secret that Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Houston Rockets center Steven Adams have a history of incidents. Draymond Green has kicked Steven Adams in the groin area not once, but twice. Both times occurred during the 2016 Western Conference Finals (Game 3 and Game 7). Draymond was suspended after Game 3 and missed Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
Steven Adams will once again face GSW and Draymond Green in the Playoffs…
“I got kicked in the nuts twice… I wouldn’t say we’re mates” pic.twitter.com/Egmx9ZBGzr
— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) April 16, 2025
Over the years, the two have had several additional arguments that extend beyond Adams’ time with the Thunder and include his time with the Pelicans and Grizzlies. Adams is now facing Draymond in another crucial playoff matchup as a member of the Houston Rockets.
Even Rockets teammate Fred VanVleet is aware of the beef. When on Draymond’s podcast, Steven Adams came up, to which Draymond said, “ Me and Steven Adams don’t get into it much… I think there’s a mutual respect there.”
Fred naturally had his teammates’ back and replied with, “Didn’t you kick my man in the nuts?” Draymond claimed he was just selling a foul call, but Fred was not there for it.
Draymond: Me and Steven Adams don’t really get into it much… I think there’s a mutual respect there
Fred VanVleet: Didn’t you kick my man in the nuts?
Dray: I was selling the call
Fred: you kicked my dawg in the nuts man, c’mon with that sh*t pic.twitter.com/NuxBAcKG8g
— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) April 16, 2025
Despite lacking superstars like Steph Curry or Kevin Durant, the Rockets have young players like Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun who can lead the team on the court, while head coach Ime Udoka keeps the team’s culture and identity intact in the locker room. Adams’ toughness makes him a veteran extension of his current coach.
The Warriors, who currently sit seventh in the Western Conference, are not the formidable force they once were, but Jimmy Butler’s arrival has spurred a comeback for the team that has the whole Western Conference on edge. After being suspended and fined the previous season, Draymond Green may have slowed some of his antics, yet he remains the same over-the-top player who attacked Adams years ago.
Draymond will give it his all in this game against the Rockets, regardless of his background, but he needs to maintain his composure to prevent being a distraction for his team. In contrast to the previous time, Green and the Warriors are the lower seed, however, the Rockets are still the betting underdogs. But one thing you can bet on is Adams will not pass up the opportunity to step up if needed versus the man who used to be his most ferocious opponent on the court.