“My mom. Growing up with her, she always taught us to say whatever. Like, ‘You think something, say it. Don’t bite your tongue for people.” While speaking about his mother, Draymond Green gave us an insight into his personality. At every opportunity, the Warriors superstar has credited his mom, Mary Babers-Green, for all her efforts. She worked odd jobs to provide stability for her son, eventually becoming a 4x NBA champion. And those sacrifices are even remembered today.
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Being approximately 11,320 km from Saginaw, Draymond is on his China tour, and his recent destination is Shanghai. The tour already had commercial success with a headline-grabbing moment, but this update is emotional. “Just a kid from the Northside of Saginaw, Michigan. Mama I made it“. There is a reason Green remembers his mother and her hardships because one of the towers in the Bund area of Shanghai projects the Warriors’ face and their accolades.
Which is why the 35-year-old added, “Forever Grateful.” And to inspire the next generation of young hoopers in any part of the world, Draymond Green added the music of the Notorious B.I.G., Sky’s the limit. For the 4x All-Star to make his dream possible, his mother played a huge role. Mary Babers-Green raised him solo for most of his childhood in Saginaw, Michigan. She even went through the process of divorce with her first husband, Green’s biological father, Wallace Davis.
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Draymond Green was only twelve at the time, but Mary worked multiple jobs to continue being the support system of the family. Even her duties at the courtside didn’t take a toll. Previously, she stated, “I probably got thrown out four or five times. That’s mothering.” Now we know where the Warriors superstar gets his fiery side from. In fact, his mother tossed from the gym of Arthur Hill High.
Four cops picked her up and carried her out after shouting from the wrong section. Going through a divorce and working extra didn’t stop Mary from imparting knowledge and strengthening her son’s foundation. That’s why we see the 4x NBA champion mentioning his mother during his China tour.
Draymond Green Creates Viral Moment with Fan
As stated, the intense nature runs in the blood. We have already seen glimpses of it over his 13-year NBA career. He’s racked up 163 regular-season technical fouls in his career and clashed with opponents; even his teammates were in the firing line.
One such infamous incident was on October 5, 2022, when a practice scuffle escalated into a shove-punch sequence. Yes, it’s the same incident where Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole. Why are we talking about it again? Because Green and Poole met once again.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 25, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) and forward Draymond Green (23) celebrate during the second quarter against the Utah Jazz at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
This was not the direct meeting that one can think of. Less than 24 hours after arriving in China, Green showcased his intensity, and in the firing line was a fan wearing a Jordan Pooke jersey.
The Warriors’ superstar attempted to dunk over the fan but missed, which led to the viral sequence. Green playfully shoved the fan, slipped him into a mock chokehold, and finished with a hug.
Even the crowd started laughing on the viral clip on X. This incident was during the challenge where Green and Slim faced off against Chen Zewen and Cheng Xinkai in a two-on-two game to 100 points.
Again, this was a funny incident, unlike the real punching story from the locker room. Over the years, even Draymond Green has apologized on multiple platforms. In January 2025, he publicly apologized, tweeting, “I really am sorry.” Then, on the Pivot Podcast in June 2025, he admitted he“forgot where I was at”. But Green’s rise from 35th pick in 2012 to four-time NBA champion, getting suspensions, is a story of relentless intensity.
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Edited by
Tanay Sahai