Photo: Peter Baba

Draymond Green recalled receiving an expensive introduction to NBA rookie life when Golden State’s veterans stuck him and three other first-year players with an $18,000 restaurant bill.

The incident happened during a team dinner in Denver involving Green, Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli and Kent Bazemore.

At first, Green thought the veterans were simply treating the rookies to a memorable night, especially as they freely ordered expensive food and drinks.

“My rookie initiation was, me, Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, and Kent Bazemore. We were in Denver, we had a team dinner and they were ordering everything. Richard Jefferson ordered this big 108-ounce porterhouse steak that was to serve six people for himself. They were ordering shots. I’m looking around like these dudes ordering everything. They brought us to dinner. That’s dope.”

Green soon discovered there was another reason the veterans were ordering without concern about the price.

Once dinner ended, they praised the newcomers before revealing that the four rookies would be responsible for paying.

“Mind you I’m a second round pick so I ain’t have no money. It’s barely the beginning of the season. It ain’t November 15th. I ain’t started getting paid yet. So at the end of it they like, ‘Yeah, this been a great dinner. Excited about the opportunity that this team have. We can get to the playoffs. Young fellas, really appreciate y’all. Happy to have y’all here. Y’all going to bring some winning ways. Also appreciate y’all taking care of this dinner.’ And all of them walked out.”

The surprise became even bigger when the rookies saw the $18,000 total. Splitting it evenly would have meant paying $4,500 each, an amount Green said he simply did not have at that point.

“We get the bill. It’s $18,000. Kent Bazemore undrafted. I ain’t got no dough. Festus and Harrison got some dough, they both cheap as hell, so they wasn’t trying to pay. Shout out to Eric Housen. Eric Housen left the team credit card on file and took care of it for us. I was screwed. I had no chance at paying that bill. $4,500. I ain’t got no dough.”