Draymond Green isn’t one to bite his tongue, and on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, he had some thoughts on the recent scuffle between Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren. Green, never a stranger to on-court confrontations himself, questioned whether Diabate truly wanted the smoke-or just wanted to look like he did.
“He got mushed,” Green said bluntly, referring to the face-shove that sparked the altercation. “Then he kind of acted like he wanted to go at Jalen Duren, but if we’re being real, he could’ve gotten to him.
People were holding him back, but not really. If he wanted to get there, he could’ve.”
Green’s take? Diabate’s reaction seemed more performative than purposeful. As the scuffle spilled from the baseline up the sideline, Diabate kept trying to get at Duren-but according to Green, it looked more like posturing than pursuit.
The incident went down during Monday night’s matchup between the Hornets and Pistons, a game that quickly turned from physical to full-blown chaotic. After Diabate was shoved in the face, he responded-at least initially-with aggression. Broadcast footage later showed Diabate throwing at least one punch and winding up for another before being restrained.
But things didn’t stop there. Hornets forward Miles Bridges jumped into the fray and landed a shot on Duren, escalating the situation. That prompted Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart to come off the bench and confront Bridges, adding another layer of intensity-and consequence-to the melee.
Green also pointed out the Michigan vs. Michigan State connection in the altercation.
Diabate, a Michigan alum, and Bridges, who played at Michigan State, found themselves in the middle of the action together. Green, a proud Spartan himself, noted that Bridges stepped in to defend his teammate-a move that, while costly, underscored the Hornets’ chemistry.
The fallout was swift. The NBA handed down suspensions to all four players involved.
Diabate and Bridges each received four-game bans. Duren was hit with a two-game suspension, while Stewart, who left the bench and escalated the incident, got the harshest penalty: seven games.
For Diabate, the timing couldn’t be worse. The 24-year-old has been a steady contributor during Charlotte’s recent upswing.
In games he’s started, the Hornets have gone 15-9-a stretch that’s helped them stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference Play-In race. Diabate is putting up career-best numbers across the board: 8.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 block per game, all while shooting a blistering 63.2% from the field in just over 25 minutes a night.
Charlotte, now 25-29, sits 10th in the East and is looking to regain traction after seeing its nine-game win streak snapped. The Hornets face a pivotal matchup against the Atlanta Hawks (26-29) on Wednesday night-one that could have real implications for seeding as the All-Star break approaches.
With the league’s disciplinary decisions now in the books, the focus shifts back to the court. For the Hornets, the challenge is clear: move past the drama, stay locked in, and keep pushing for a postseason spot. For Diabate, that means serving his suspension, staying ready, and continuing to prove that his breakout season isn’t a fluke.
And for Draymond? Well, don’t expect him to stop calling it like he sees it.