Draymond Green, a star forward for the Golden State Warriors, was slapped with a lawsuit Tuesday.
Jermaine Edmondson and Bianca Williams brought claims of physical assault, bullying and misleading statements against the professional basketball player stemming from two incidents in Michigan last summer, according to lawyer Lisa Bloom, who is representing the accusers. The first sentence of their lawsuit claims that "Draymond Green is a bully."
"The filing of this lawsuit was a last resort," Bloom said. "Mr. Green has refused to accept responsibility for his conduct and so we will ask a jury to educate him and hold him accountable."
The incidents of alleged violence occurred last July in East Lansing, Mich., which is the home of Green's college alma mater. Edmondson alleges that Green bumped into him at a bar and bullied him with a demeaning comment about being a scholarship athlete who Green is paying for.
Green then turned to his entourage, according to Bloom. That's when two men with Green allegedly pushed Edmondson against a wall and choked him, according to Bloom. Williams tried to intervene, but one of the men grabbed her by the neck and also pushed her against a wall.
"I still feel that man's hand around my neck and it will forever be traumatizing," Williams said.
The following night, Edmondson and Williams went out and early the next morning, the couple ran into Green once more, according to the lawsuit. Bloom said that Green spotted Williams at a restaurant and followed her outside. Williams and Edmondson, who was outside the restaurant at the time, then tried to make peace with Green, but the basketball player proceeded to strike Edmondson "hard" in the face, Bloom said.
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"I think about what happened with Draymond every day," Edmondson said. "I still feel his hand on my jaw. There are nights when I wake up crying. I don't understand why my name has been turned into this joke, and he gets all the credit for being a superstar and standing up for women."
Edmondson hopes to move forward with his life, but he said, "I need Draymond Green to admit what happened and that Bianca and I didn't deserve to be assaulted."
Green was arrested for hitting Edmondson, but he avoided jail time after reaching a plea deal and paying a $500 fine and $60 jail restitution. The misdemeanor charge he faced was reduced to a noise violation.
Katherine Grubaugh, a representative for Green, issued the following statement on his behalf:
"This lawsuit relates to an incident that occurred in East Lansing, Michigan over a year ago, for which Draymond paid a noise violation fine. Draymond looks forward to defending himself and clearing up the misinformation put forth today."
The Warriors also issued a statement referencing that the lawsuit stems from the incident in question and that Green paid a noise violation fine. The organization did not provide an additional comment.
Green has previously been in hot water for posting an inappropriate picture on Snapchat, which he said was an accident because he pressed the wrong button on the app. He also faced backlash after posting a video of himself behind the wheel of a speeding BMW back in March of 2016.
The impassioned and emotional leader of the Warriors is known for his boisterous behavior and tenacious motor on the court. He has also been criticized for being a dirty player, as highlighted by a leg kick that landed in Steven Adams' groin during the 2016 playoffs and a swipe of the hand that appeared to hit LeBron James below the belt during the NBA Finals later that season.
Green, who grew up in Saginaw, Mich. and starred at Michigan State, was drafted by the Warriors in 2012 and has since risen to become one the association's best defensive stars.
He most recently helped the Warriors capture their second championship in three years and won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
