Detroit Pistons guard Wayne Ellington had strong words for Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, following the pair of Golden State Warriors players' criticism of Rodney McGruder in their postgame comments on Saturday night.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday afternoon following the Pistons' practice, Ellington questioned the Warriors stars' professionalism and defended McGruder's character, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic.
"He's one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys in this league. … Rodney has never tried to portray a tough guy in this league." https://t.co/F0MBzLIEAO
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 31, 2021
The incident in question occurred following the matchup between the Pistons and Warriors when McGruder walked over to the opposing team's bench to confront several Warrior players. While it is unclear precisely what caused the confrontation, Green alluded to the fact that Ellington and one of the Golden State players exchanged words in the first half of the game, causing tension for the rest of the match. Though McGruder was not present on the court when this occurred, the guard seemingly took exception to what was said and waited for the end of the game to confront the Warriors.
While the coaching staffs separated the two sides before the scrum could turn physical, both Draymond Green and Klay Thompson—who was serving as a member of the team's local broadcast—were quick to take McGruder to task over his actions. Telling reporters that the guard would soon be out of the league and that he was merely “acting tough,” both of the Golden State stars spared little when speaking of McGruder.
Ellington's comments then are not only a defense of a teammate who has been publicly attacked by opposing players but a show of gratitude for one who defended him. Though the two teams will not face one another again until the NBA's second half, we can already look forward to McGruder versus Green later in the season.
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