LeBron James vs. Draymond Green: the old verbal clash resurfaces

Nine years ago, inside the walls of Quicken Loans Arena, LeBron James delivered one of the most electric moments in NBA Finals history. It was Game 4 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. And although the visitors sealed a 108–97 victory, the result was just the prologue to something bigger. Something involving Draymond Green — and so much more.

In the final quarter, with the Warriors holding a 3–1 lead in the series. LeBron James and Draymond Green collided in a moment as explosive as it was symbolic. After several tense games, emotions boiled over into shoves, shouting, and a double technical foul.

Tension boiling mid-game

What’s surfaced now — through X, formerly known as Twitter — are the actual words that were shouted. Outlets like The Sports Rush have recovered the exchange, which still echoes loudly. “Don’t bump into me,” yelled LeBron James. Draymond Green fired back without a filter: “Bitch.”

What LeBron James Said To Draymond Green In 2016👀:

LeBron: “Don’t walk into me”

Green: “You a b*tch”

LeBron: “Don’t call me no b*tch”

Green: “Right, right”

LeBron: “Don’t call me no b*tch, n****”

Then, Klay Thompson said: “I guess his feelings got hurt” pic.twitter.com/MMKujY1Ba0

— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) July 21, 2025

That wasn’t just trash talk — it was gasoline on an open flame. Draymond Green was suspended for the next game due to an accumulation of technical fouls, and the Warriors lost their most combustible weapon right when they needed him most. That suspension opened the door for a storyline no one saw coming. Cleveland mounted a historic comeback and became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 deficit in the Finals. After the LeBron James–Green incident, the Cavaliers claimed the title in seven games.

An unforgettable performance

LeBron James finished the series with a lights-out performance — leading all players in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. In Game 7, he delivered one of the most iconic plays in modern basketball. “The Block” against Andre Iguodala. Sending a roar through a city that had waited more than 50 years for a major sports title.

The incident between LeBron James and Green wasn’t random. It was the raw collision of two basketball machines both chasing history. And yes, both of them made it — that game, nearly a decade later, is still sparking conversations across the NBA world.

Criticism and controversy

Although the 2016 championship is widely seen as one of LeBron James’ most legitimate and thrilling titles, not all of his rings have been embraced equally. His fourth title, won in the 2020 Orlando bubble with the Lakers, has drawn criticism from voices like Ron Harper — former teammate of Michael Jordan — who dismissed it as “a bubble ring… trash.”

Despite the backlash, LeBron James dominated those playoffs with averages of 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.8 assists — earning Finals MVP in the process. Whether you consider that title unconventional or not, LeBron proved once again that every ring, every roar, and every fight carves deeper into the legacy of one of basketball’s fiercest competitors.