LeBron James and company tried to have Draymond Green suspended from the 2016 NBA Finals by playing games, as former Cleveland Cavaliers star Channing Frye has disclosed.

With a 3-1 series lead after Game Four, the Golden State Warriors were one win away from a second consecutive NBA title. However, late in the game, Draymond Green committed a foul on LeBron James by hitting him in the crotch.

Frye, 40, a former center with the Cavaliers, has disclosed that the team intentionally intended to “bait” Green into a ban in order to stҽal the 2016 NBA title from the Warriors.

Frye said, “Of course,” when asked if he had ever tried to get a reaction out of Green on The Athletic’s A King’s Reign podcast.

“Hey, I’m going to step on your laces if your shoes aren’t tied. There was no foul play, so there was no harm done. It’s just how the game goes. He saw through our ploy to lure him in. You can tell from watching the game that everyone was setting up traps for him. And it has made them quite angry. What was it about which your anger was warranted? The last 25 technicalities are really insanҽ.

After losing in 2016, Green and the Warriors came back stronger than ever, capturing the NBA title in 2017 and again in 2018. It was Green’s fourth year with the Warriors when they won the championship that year (2022). After standing on center Domantas Sabonis’s chest in a playoff game against the Sacramento Kings, the power forward was suspended for one game without pay. The Warriors, despite Green’s efforts, were eliminated by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.

After declining his player option for the 2023-24 season, Green appeared to be done with the Warriors after their playoff humiliation. Before signing a four-year, $100 million (£78.6m) deal earlier this month, Green was expected to test the free agency waters.

General manager Mike Dunleavy of the New Warriors said of the former Defensive Player of the Year, “What he means in terms of this organization and this team, winning at the highest level, we feel like we have to have him.” Although Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted, “Look, if Draymond is not back, we’re not a championship contender.” That is something that we are aware of. That’s how crucial he is to our success and identity. I need him in my life again.