Draymond Green called himself Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday. On Sunday, he called glass on a wide-open layup with the season on the line and missed everything but the hopes and dreams of Warriors fans.
Golden State’s regular-season finale against the Clippers had everything—Steph Curry heroics, James Harden in vintage form, and, unfortunately, the exact kind of Draymond Green moment that leaves the internet in flames. The Warriors dropped a 124-119 overtime heartbreaker, and the timing couldn’t have been worse. Now, instead of locking in a top-six seed, the Dubs are clinging to the 7th spot and diving headfirst into the chaos of the Play-In.
Let’s set the scene: 36.7 seconds left in overtime, Clippers up two, Kawhi Leonard just traveled, and the Warriors had life. The ball found its way to Draymond Green uncontested under the rim. You already know what happened next. The ball clanked off the backboard like it owed someone money.
If Draymond just goes straight up and doesn’t try to draw the foul it is a tied ball game. pic.twitter.com/MzbThJAKbD
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) April 13, 2025
In a game filled with wild swings, this moment stood out like a sore thumb wrapped in neon. And that miss wasn’t just a stat—it was the moment that swung the season.
Meanwhile, James Harden morphed into 2019 Houston mode, torching Golden State with 39 points, 10 assists, and enough daggers to fill a sword store. Kawhi Leonard added 33. The Clippers locked up the 5th seed. Steph dropped 36. Jimmy Butler added 30 for the Warriors. But none of it mattered after that miss.
And Twitter? Oh, Twitter went absolutely nuclear.
Fan Reactions: Draymond Green, Welcome to the Internet
“Draymond Green is pathetic man.” This one hit like a vintage Klay three—simple, sharp, and straight to the heart. And fans weren’t just mad at the miss. They were mad at how it happened, given everything at stake. Per ESPN, Draymond’s layup miss with 36.7 seconds left came at the worst possible time, especially in a game that determined whether the Warriors would avoid the Play-In. Spoiler: They didn’t.
“It’s okay! The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis must go on” Because when the lights are brightest, the layups are… missed? Just before the game, Draymond had declared, “DPOY should be yours truly.” But after that brick? Fans were suggesting he submit the missed layup for Emmy consideration instead. Look, confidence is cool and all—but maybe hold off on the award speech until the layup drops.
Mar 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) argues a call against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
“Draymond Green is the least skilled basketball player I have ever seen in my life. How TF do you miss a wide open layup like that with the season on the line?! He’s so bad.” This tweet could power the Chase Center with pure rage. And honestly? Fans have receipts. From getting ejected late against the Hornets in 2021 to that infamous 2022 preseason punch on Jordan Poole, Draymond has a track record of turning critical moments into critical failures. Sunday’s miss just added a painful new chapter.
“mf might miss the playoffs talkin bout ‘WE WANT THE LAKERS’ LMFAOOOOO Draymond ‘missed the layup’ Green.” Absolutely no one forgot this. Earlier this season, Draymond said with his whole chest, “We want the Lakers.” And now? He’s staring at a must-win Play-In against Memphis just to maybe get a shot at LeBron. The irony was served hotter than a Chase Center churro. That “WE WANT THE LAKERS” energy is now being filtered through pure desperation, and the fans know it.
So here we are. The Warriors, once hoping for a playoff push, now have to beat the Grizzlies just to survive. Lose, and their season might end without a sniff of the first round. All because of one missed layup… and about 19 other reasons, but mostly the layup.
Draymond Green still thinks he’s the DPOY—and look, confidence matters. But if he’s going to campaign for awards while the internet’s handing him nicknames like “Missed the Layup Green,” maybe it’s time to pivot from declarations to, you know, buckets.
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