NBA News Roundup: Draymond Green picks LeBron James over Michael Jordan, Ja Morant fined for confronting official, and more

Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green has chosen LA Lakers star forward LeBron James over NBA legend Michael Jordan. In other news, Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant has been fined for confronting an NBA official.

On that note, here is the latest news from around the NBA as of Dec. 5, 2022.

Draymond Green picks LeBron James over Michael Jordan

Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green

Draymond Green has provided his case for why LeBron James is the greatest player of all time over Michael Jordan. During an episode of Uninterrupted's 'Throwing Bones,' Green explained that his choice has a lot to do with James’ sustained dominance since 2003. He added that James has faced tougher competition than Jordan in the NBA Finals and has a better all-around skillset.

"Bron started in '03. By 2005, Bron was the best player in the NBA. In 2020 he was still the best player in the NBA. He was the best player in the NBA no matter what the game did. The game went from two slugs, like two big men, to like, a stretch four big man, back to two big men, to no big men, and he's been the best no matter what."

He continued:

“When you look at the teams that Bron has carried to championships or carried to the finals. M.J. didn't beat the greatest team ever assembled, nor did he run up against the greatest team ever assembled every year... There's nobody that has ever played the game of basketball that can do what LeBron James does on a basketball court. Nobody."

Green added:

“You all want to be like Mike, but what LeBron has been able to do and how he can control a game, like, to do it this long. M.J. retired... Going to the Finals year after year after year, Bron went to eight or nine straight. M.J. took a break right in the heat of that s**t. Bron didn't take a break, you know what he did? He went again and again and again again... So for me, that's why it's Bron over M.J. for me."

He concluded by saying:

“And on top of that, the talent nowadays is way better. And I'm sure one of the old f***s gonna say 'you're out of you're mind' blah blah blah. The talent is way better, just like the talent at Apple is way better than the talent that was working at Apple in 1991."

There’s no objectively right or wrong choice when it comes to the GOAT debate, and many will surely disagree with Green. Still, he laid out a pretty compelling case.

Ja Morant fined $35,000 for confronting NBA official

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant

Ja Morant has been fined $35,000 for confronting an NBA official. Morant reportedly directed inappropriate language toward the referee during his fourth quarter ejection versus Minnesota on Nov. 30. Morant then failed to leave the court in a timely manner after being ejected. Memphis went on to lose 109-101 in the final 1:22 of the game without Morant.

The decision to fine Ja Morant was later announced by Joe Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations.

Dallas Mavericks interested in Derrick Rose

New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose

The Dallas Mavericks recently signed free agent point guard and former New York Knick Kemba Walker. They did so to fill part of the hole left in their backcourt by the loss of guard Jalen Brunson to New York in free agency. Now it appears the Mavs have another Knicks target in mind. According to Ric Bucher of Fox Sports, Dallas is interested in veteran Knicks point guard Derrick Rose.

Rose is having a down season averaging just 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 40.0% shooting. However, he is still making $14.5 million this season. So Dallas would have to find a way to match that salary in any potential deal.

Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins make history as Warriors become the first team to hit 400 3-pointers this season

Golden State Warriors stars Andrew Wiggins and Steph Curry

During the Golden State Warriors’ 120-101 win over Houston on Saturday, the Warriors were on fire from deep. The team made 25 3-pointers, just four short of Milwaukee’s all-time record of 29. Meanwhile, the Rockets made just three 3-pointers giving Golden State a 75-9 advantage from deep.

The game marked the Warriors’ fourth game with at least 20 3-pointers in their past five games. It also led them to become the first team to reach 400 made threes this season.

Warriors stars Andrew Wiggins and Steph Curry both led the Warriors with eight 3-pointers each. In doing so, they became the third pair of teammates in NBA history to each hit eight-or-more threes in a single game. The only other teammates to do so were Zach LaVine and Coby White for Chicago in 2021 and Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Love for Cleveland earlier this season.

Following the win, the Warriors improved to 13-11 and are now sixth in the Western Conference. Their disappointing 3-7 start now appears to be well behind them.

Anthony Davis scores season-high 55 points

LA Lakers All-Star forward Anthony Davis

LA Lakers All-Star forward Anthony Davis had his best game of the season on Sunday versus Washington. Davis finished with a season-high 55 points to go along with 17 rebounds and three blocks. He also led the LA Lakers to a 130-119 win over the Wizards. The win marked the Lakers’ eighth win in 10 games.

Following the victory, the Lakers now sit at 10-12 and 12th in the Western Conference. They are now just two games behind the eighth seed in the West. With the way Davis and the Lakers have been playing lately, they appear to be on pace to enter the Western Conference playoff picture soon. If they can do so, Davis may even be able to enter the MVP conversation as well.