It’s easy to demonize Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green for the “Sacramento stomp” of Kings big man Domantas Sabonis, or for the too-many-to-count moments Green has crossed the line of basketball civility all in the pursuit of winning.

But let’s not act like there was only one bad guy in this brouhaha that led to Green being suspended for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series between Golden State and Sacramento.

Sabonis deserves as much blame, if not more of it, for what happened.

Just like Draymond putting his size 15 in Sabonis’ chest was not a normal basketball move, the same could be said for what initiated the entire incident—Sabonis’ bear hug around Green’s ankle.

For him to go totally unpunished (and no, that weak tech he picked up for the play doesn’t count) is the part of this narrative that not enough folks are talking about.

Sacramento’s return to the playoffs after a 17-year drought, has been one of the feel-good stories of this still-young playoff season. But the Sabonis incident and the look-the-other-way treatment he has received for the role he played in what happened...this rags-to-riches story in Sacramento doesn’t feel so good anymore.

To suspend Green and let Sabonis play only feeds the conspiracy theorists who believe the NBA has its favorite sons, and controls or—at least heavily influences—the outcome of games.

Green was punished not because of what happened, but because he also has a long and storied past of indiscretions.

Joe Dumars, the Hall of Famer who is now the NBA’s Head of Basketball Operations, made it abundantly clear when he handed down the Green suspension that more went into the decision than the incident itself.

“The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” read the league’s statement.

OK, I get why Green was suspended.

He broke the rules and has a history of breaking the rules when it comes to unsportsmanlike behavior.

But what about Sabonis?

Why does he get off with nothing more than a technical foul?

And for those who point to the fact that Sabonis’ reputation, when it comes to sportsmanship, should give him a pass, you’re wrong.

Because there was a player with an even more impeccable reputation who literally did the same thing Sabonis did, received a one-game suspension.

And the player whose ankles Middleton clung to, Memphis’ Dillon Brooks, is as close as any player in the NBA to replicating Green’s sometimes boorish behavior when it comes to adhering to rules of sportsmanship.

Again, the issue isn’t whether Green or Middleton should have been punished. The league did the right thing in punishing them both.

But to let Sabonis skate by with no real recourse for what he did or the role he played in all this, is just wrong.

The league, in announcing Green’s suspension, explained the role that Sabonis played in the incident.

“Green’s actions were in response to Sabonis grabbing and holding Green’s right ankle after falling to the floor,” read the statement which added that Sabonis received a technical foul for the play.

Sabonis shouldn’t be demonized for his role in all this. But when it comes to doling out punishment, the NBA has to be more consistent and equitable.