If you thought Draymond Green trash-talked everyone but family, think again—because Friday night, even his wife got caught in the crossfire. In a wild sequence that felt straight out of an NBA sitcom, Draymond fouled LeBron hard early in the game—an old-school, no-easy-buckets type hit that left Bron visibly heated. But things didn’t end there.
Draymond clamped LeBron on a possession later, turned to the crowd, and flashed a “lock-up” signal—aimed right at his wife, Hazel Renee, who was sitting courtside. Yup, that level of confidence. And guess what? Bron didn’t take it lightly. Just minutes later, the King pulled up and splashed a three right over Draymond—and turned to stare Hazel down with a playful but deadly look. You could practically hear him saying, “That one’s for you too.”
After the game, Draymond explained the whole thing, confirming the courtside back-and-forth wasn’t just between two players. “I gave her the lock sign,” Dray said with a grin. “Then Bron hit a three and pointed right back.”
“That was a fun moment,” Draymond said postgame. “My wife and [her] fam, so I did it to them. Then he hit the three on me in the corner, and he looked back at them. So, it’s a very fun moment.”
Feb 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Friendly fire? Maybe. But don’t let the smiles fool you—Draymond’s been locked in on defense. That fun back-and-forth with LeBron was just a small piece of a much bigger story. Green isn’t just playing for pride anymore—he’s chasing more silverware, and with Wemby out, the path’s looking clearer. The Spurs rookie had been climbing the DPOY ladder until a blood clot in his shoulder shut him down.
Now, Green’s got a real shot.
His defensive numbers this season? Sneaky impressive. He’s pulling in 1.5 steals a game—his best since 2021—and still swatting a shot and grabbing five boards on the regular. March was peak Draymond: he anchored the Warriors to an 11–4 run while averaging nearly two steals. That earned him Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month.
And if you’ve been tuning in, you’ve seen it—he’s not just defending, he’s sending messages.
Back in 2015 and 2016, he finished runner-up for DPOY. He finally took it home in 2017. Now, at 34, he’s not slowing down. Honestly, it feels like he’s trying to remind everyone—he still locks down like no one else. And it’s not just the numbers or the eye test—Draymond’s even getting love from legends on national TV.
Reggie Miller backs Draymond Green for DPOY
Reggie Miller didn’t mince words Thursday night. During the Warriors-Lakers broadcast, Draymond Green forced a turnover mid-possession, and Kevin Harlan couldn’t help but comment—“Boy, is he having some kind of defensive season.” That’s when Reggie jumped in with a bold claim: “He is the Defensive Player of the Year.”
He didn’t stop there. Miller talked up Draymond’s ability to wreck entire game plans, his switchability from guards to bigs, and the way he always seems to be in the right spot. And yeah, he slipped up a bit saying Green ranked top five in deflections (he’s actually 25th), but honestly, that wasn’t the point. It was the passion behind it that sold it.
Dec 19, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts during the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Then came the mic-drop moment. With the game on the line, Draymond stripped a crucial steal—textbook timing. Miller couldn’t resist doubling down: “Give him the trophy already.”
Love him or not, Draymond’s got Hall of Famers backing his case—and the spotlight couldn’t be brighter.
The post Draymond Green Confirms Wife Hazel Renee’s Involvement in LeBron James Back-and-Forth as DPOY Chances Surge appeared first on EssentiallySports.
