Draymond Green: Dirty Olynyk 'out there trying to hurt people'

While his teammates and coaches scoff at the notion that Kelly Olynyk has a malicious bone in his body, one of the league's loudest stars sounded off on the Celtics big man after the altercation that resulted in Wizards forward Kelly Oubre's suspension.

"He's dirty, a dirty player," Draymond Green said of Olynyk on his "Dray Day" podcast. "I don't respect guys like that. I know he's not the greatest basketball player of all time, so maybe he feels like he's got to do that, but you don't have to do that."

Two years removed from dislocating Kevin Love's left shoulder during a 2015 playoff series, Olynyk was thrust into the national spotlight again last week, when Oubre shoved him to the ground following an Olynyk screen that appeared to involve an elbow to Oubre's head.

Green called it "ridiculous" that Oubre was suspended for his actions while Olynyk was available to play in Sunday's Game 4, citing Olynyk's history.

"He yanked (Kevin Love's) shoulder out of place," Green said. "I don't roll with that, man. He's just dirty. You know veteran tricks is grabbing an arm so a guy can't get there to block a shot or cutting some guy off so he can't get there to contest. But you're not doing nothing to hurt nobody. This dude be out there trying to hurt people."

The irony, of course, is that Green's style of play came under fire last Spring, when his flailing legs repeatedly made contact with various opponents, and his swipe at LeBron James' groin pushed the Warriors star over the postseason flagrant limit, resulting in a series-turning suspension with Golden State up 3-1 in the NBA Finals.

But Green doesn't believe the same "dirty player" label he thrust upon Olynyk applies to himself, telling ESPN's Chris Haynes that he's never actually kicked an opponent. "You kick somebody with your foot, not your shin."