Warriors forward/center Draymond Green received his fifth playoff technical foul of the playoffs during Thursday’s loss in Minnnesota, which evened the second-round series at one game apiece. As Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN writes, Green is now two technicals away from an automatic one-game suspension.
“Looked like the angry Black man,” Green told reporters after the game. “I’m not an angry Black man. I am a very successful, educated Black man with a great family, and I am great at basketball and great at what I do.
“The agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry Black man is crazy. I’m sick of it. It’s ridiculous.”
According to Youngmisuk, a fan was ejected in the fourth quarter for directing a racial slur at Green, who was on a stationary bike in the tunnel near the team’s bench at the time. The two engaged in a brief back and forth before the fan was escorted out of the arena by authorities.
Early in the second quarter, Wolves big man Naz Reid was whistled for a reach-in foul on Green, who flailed his left arm and made contact with Reid’s head (YouTube link via ESPN). Upon review, Green was given a dead-ball technical foul.
The play was similar to Green’s fourth playoff technical, which occurred in Game 7 of Golden State’s first-round series vs. Houston. Fred VanVleet was called for a reach-in foul and Green flailed his arm and hit VanVleet’s head in an apparent attempt to sell the call (YouTube link via Bleacher Report).
“It’s just a habit he has when somebody fouls him, and he’s smart,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “So I think it was Reid reached and on the reach, Draymond kind of swiped through and drew the foul. But he does have a habit of sort of flailing his arm to try to make sure the ref sees it, and he made contact, and that’s what led to the tech.”
Immediately after the fifth technical was announced, Green directed a profanity-laced tirade at the referees. Injured guard Stephen Curry tried to calm him down near mid-court, but that didn’t work, and Kerr wound up subbing in Jimmy Butler for Green to get him off the court.
“I could see he had gotten pretty upset,” Kerr said, “and I just didn’t want him to get another technical, so I took him out at that point and I know he’s going to have to be careful now that he’s two techs away. He’s going to have to stay composed. Obviously, we need him, and I’m confident that he will because he knows the circumstances.”
Green has a long history of accruing technical fouls, flagrant fouls, ejections and suspensions, including an indefinite suspension last season which ultimately cost him 12 games. Thursday’s broadcast noted that he’s also two flagrant points away from an automatic one-game suspension, so any additional on-court incidents could be very costly for the Warriors.
Green needs to play smarter and not get fished into those fouls. Reid out smarted Green. Green has 2 years left after this year and this might be his last chance at a ring. The T messed with his head and he played a bad game.
It’s not stupidity that’s leading to these choices, he’s just an a**hole. I think the most damning aspect of Green is Kerr’s quote “I know he’s going to have to be careful now that he’s two techs away. He’s going to have to stay composed. Obviously, we need him, and I’m confident that he will because he knows the circumstances.”. The only thing Green, Kerr or 90% of Dubs fans care about is the accountability. Until that’s in their faces it’s everyone else’s fault and not really important.
It is very disingenuous to insinuate that Draymond is being baited into performing these violent, non-basketball actions.
You’re wrong again Druu. What arc is saying is that Naz was making the smart play here, knowing he could reach and frustrate Greymond into doing what Green does.
Nothing disingenuous about what arc wrote at all.
Can you explain why he is getting Ts on the excat same type of plays? 3 now on players positioning themselves on his left shoulder almost in his face and then over drama the contact? Green is falling for it every time and needs to be smarter.
Yes. He’s performing violent, non-basketball actions. On all 3 plays. He’s initiating the body movements and the contact. He’s not falling for anything, its just who he is.
SMH Yesterday play was over acting on Reid. Take a look at it. You don’t guard that close. Pretty much he was almost bear hugging Green.
Can you point us to the specific rule that indicates how close a player is allowed to guard their opponent? Do the front court players also have a specific rule that doesn’t allow them to guard their opponent within a specific distance?
Is this only a rule for backcourt players? Is there a certain distance from the basket where they are allowed to guard their opponent that close?
can you point where i said its against the rules? I didn’t. Stop trying to change words to fit your agenda.
Dude if you can lick my armpit because your illegally close to me, its your fault if you get whacked by my arm after you foul me and throw off my balance.
Both this and the last tech are situations where the player gets punished for flailing AFTER being fouled, once their balance and movement have been thrown off.
Anybody who plays hoop knows that sometimes after someone fouls you you can accidentally get them. There are so many plays where players get hurt on a foul they committed.
Draymond is right too that the refs treat him with a double standard. That dead ball tech on Naz wouldnt be called on any other players. Those are almost always for intentional hostile acts, like trying to fight, not barely whacking someone who is in your shirt after they foul you. Of course the wolves were being allowed to push down defenders with a fully extended arm so what the f*** does dumpster fire Tony Brothers dumb @ss know…
this is where Green needs to be much smarter and not throw up his arms after getting fouled. Stop the over drama on fouls and if they don’t call it they don’t call it.
Him Luka/LeBron/Joker… Its funny because when LeBron loses it on the refs he gets a better whistle the rest of the game. Draymond gets a tech for the same thing…
I am a little sick of the screaming and one on every drive where he is wrong about half the time.
Its like watching Ant on every drive to the basket he screams out he got fouled. I notice the Refs just ignore him knowing he is fishing for a foul. Draymond does the same thing. After a while Refs ignore you that is Luka’s problem they are tired of the crying for fouls.
“Green has 2 years left….”
I’m gonna go out on a limb, arc89, and predict Dubs trade Green this offseason if he ends up getting suspended in this series or potentially the next. That would be too many Dubs seasons/postseasons Dray has derailed. Despite the Dubs second-half success, I’m still not anticipating a title, but will fully expect everyone except The Chef to be on the trading block this offseason – even Jimmy Buckets-on-occasion.
I doubt Lacob or Kerr will approve of trading him. They are too loyal to players. Warriors have too many old bodies on the team. I hope they don’t resign GP2 or Looney its time to get some fresh legs.
Also the Warriors system just doesnt work the same without him. If they could replace him with a similar player without the emo problems they would have forever ago. The problem is that when he is locked in he is still the best defensive player in the NBA. The way he cuts off actions before they even start doesnt show up in the stats, but its why anyone who has ever played high level basketball knows what a defensive savant he is.
I think GSW would love to get rid of the drama and temper tantrums that get him extra techs, but you cant run the Steph/Dray tandem thats been proven to work without him.
Arc, don’t hate me:
Lakers get: Draymond Green
Bucks get: Austin Reaves, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis and picks
Suns get: Jimmy Butler
Warriors get: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant
Crank up the Trade Machine, Davey J!
The Lakers arent giving up Reaves for Green on a 1+1. Bucks might do it if the picks are enough. Suns want more than Butler for KD.
The move is Butler to a 3rd team that wants him and gives up bad salary plus picks for him. Giannis to GSW. GSW picks plus 3rd team picks and the bad salary to MIL. It would be 6-7 firsts from at least 2 teams and maybe a swap or two for Giannis. Take Kuminga if MIL wants him or try to flip him for a 3+D guy like Cam that fits the roster better.
Jimmy is almost perfect matching for KD/Giannis on his new deal.
I would love Steph/Cam/Green/Giannis/Post starting lineup thats got size if Post can keep working on his defense this summer. Be able to go small with a Green/Giannis front court in crunch time.
Really Davey? The Lakers trade a baller young 3rd option for grandpa ‘short fuse’ Dray? You are high AF.
What is there even left to say. He actively makes the league worse. Dirtbag good riddance. Glad you are educated how about some emotional intelligence? Or that doesn’t apply because you’re rich? Shameful for the warriors organization and basketball across the world.
The strange part is the Ts are coming on the same type of play over and over. Seems like teams know he throws his arms up over exagerating contact so they position themselves on his left hand shoulder to cause contact and getting a T on Green. Last 2 Ts came on the same type of play getting as close to Green on his left shoulder and drawing the T. Green thinks he is smart but he is being baited into Ts and fall for it everytime.
“Green has always been a punk, I can’t believe people haven’t stopped letting him smack him in the face yet…are they stupid? “
Green needs to understand that teams want a T on him and will do everything they can to get those last 2 Ts. Green should do the same play on Edwards by positioning his head on his left shoulder and taking the contact.
I think you’re right, but most players in the league who have gotten to this point of success know how to keep their emotions in check.
There’s guys out there playing pickup ball who are just as good as guys in the league, but if you foul them in the wrong way or in a way they don’t like, they will come after you in such a way that their emotion is not checked, and there is no control. You will get smacked back and smack back hard.
that is where you need to play smart. Once Green got the T he was a non factor the rest of the game. T-wolves got into his head. they know for the warriors to beat them in the series it will come down to defense. So they will be coming after Green. Finch will use every trick in the book to win.
@Dejota
He has temper control problems. Its why he storms after refs and gets intentional Ts. Lots of players get hit in the face by arms/hands/elbows in every game. Are we making any noise about Gobert giving Podz a black eye the game before? He didnt even get called for a foul on that.
Now thats partially because the refs are just terribad, but like CTFO when it comes to treating Dray like hes anything other than a little more physical than most NBA players in a way thats fine, with an anger problem in a way that isnt…
I dont like that your argument is whataboutism. Most players don’t make non basketball moves frequently. And its never appropriate for anyone to do them. And no matter how much you complain about literally everyone else Draymond will always have a longer NBA rap sheet. That’s why other people’s actions will never justify Draymonds actions and choices outside the bay area. Its not only a bad argument, its weak.
Every player throws their arms. Watch Brunson for any 2 min of game and you will see him flail like that at least 20 times with his foul grifting BS. Bet he hits peoples faces after fouls on occasion too and doesnt get a tech for it…
Jalen Brunson hasn’t kicked Steven Adam’s in the nuts in 3 different games. This is why whatabotism is a logical fallacy.
that is apple to oranges. Now you are doing what about comments.
You dont lack for cognitive dissonance….you do see how if you’re correct thats worse right?
He was comparing how Brunson flings his arms not about any other thing. DO you understand??? Not comparing Brunson does as much as Green does.
So no you don’t see how even if you’re right it’s worse. If that’s not evidence of bias and cognitive dissonance I don’t know what is. I’m not even trying to dunk on you or anything. It’s crazy to me that you can’t see that either way this proves my original point.
He didnt kick anyone in the nuts this time. He hasnt in years in fact. Get over it already…
Thug hoodlum
Needs professional help
This doesn’t help. Comments like these are what enable Green to dismiss his critics as painting a narrative about him being an angry black man. He’s objectively not a thug nor a hoodlum. He’s just a POS and leveraging vaguely racists labels instead of calling him what he actually is benefits nobody.
You nailed it, @dejota
Everyone saying “thug” about Draymond instead “jerk/pos/loser/psycho/fraud/curry-rider” is just exposing their own racism. There’s no need to use the word “thug” in 2025 when everyone knows only white power people call Black people that online.
@chandlerbing You cant hide behind your own ignorance anymore, we all know what this means about you if you call a Black person a “thug”. Knock it off or things will be bad for you around here.
It is just a game. It has always been a part of it. Who is he hurting? There are far worse people that are actually hurting people and getting praised by 10s of millions.
Who said anything about race? Why everybody gotta turn to that immediately? Divencenzo was on the knicks pushing people around i called him a thug too. Im so sick of this racism bs. Stop making everything about race!!!!!! Green is aggressive & violent. Who is he hurting? Are u insane? He Choking players, shoving them around, smacking them around. You think he gets T’s bc he trash talks? No its bc he acts like a criminal on the court. He needs mental help. Therapy
Why is the people who delude themselves into believing theyre not racist always projecting the need for mental help? Its like you’re crying out with projections. Ironically if you ever saw a therapist you’d know about that part of the psyche. Stop gaslighting yourself bro!
Are you kidding? When the Warriors won in 2014, you couldn’t go a day without someone saying that, if Curry played in the 80s, he would have been manhandled. He would be lying flat on his a$$. You are complaining about something that is not new.
That is funny before the playoffs all the teams are weak and they call too many fouls. Now that they are letting them play No Fair! they are getting to rough.
“Thug” is a term white racists use to describe Black people.
Dont EVER use it. Call Draymond a jerk or loser or fraud instead.
“I know he’s gonna have to be careful because he’s two techs away…”
TWO!!
Only two away from suspension!
Like Kerr knows Draymond can pick up two techs at church!
Rasheed Wallace is smiling right now and saying, “That’s my boy. I taught him well”.
The majority of Sheed’s techs came from overly sensitive referees, not repeated physical assault of other players.
If Sheed treated the refs like Draymond treats them, he would have been suspended instantly and indefinitely.
Draymond had received an undeserved pass for behavior towards referees and other players that no other NBA player has ever had past or present.
Getting technicals from the referees is something Green and Wallace share, but the manner in which they have received them is completely different.
It is a shame you don’t know the difference.
So, why did Wallace come out and say that Draymond learned all from me? Is Sheed lying? Or, is your memory playing tricks on you?
He always contradict his self plays off false spirit because his talent it’s not what it’s supposed to be. He is mad of no reason(series is over).
I feel sorry for the dude.
He is definitely angry – that’s not the media selling a story or the NBA creating a narrative. There is plenty of video that shows he struggles w/control, and even though I think the Tech last night was a little much, his reaction to getting T-ed up was MUCH too much. His coach took him out of the game b/c he saw a player who was angry and out of control. That’s not someone creating a story about him, it is someone reacting to him.
I feel sorry for his family. These guys with anger management and you think its limited to the basketball court? These are the people you read about who punch someone and they die. One bad moment. Anything can push them over the edge. But because he’s a rich celebrity everyone looks the other way.
Seriously, you ranted and raved about something that Butler never did. So, don’t talk about morality.
Whatever it’s your team and you can’t be objective congratulations on being a true fan. When Draymond shows up on the 10 o clock news for murder I’m sure you’ll find some way to justify it. Basketball is a sport played by HUMAN BEINGS they should come first sorry for being so controversial
I am being objective. Other players have played just as physical as Draymond and none of them have committed murder. You are making stuff up.
He digs himself a hole with extra techs by losing it on the refs…
Out of his 5
One is for breaking up the thing with Brooks going after Steph where he was breaking it up and got a tech
Two are for contact to the head on players that had fouled him right before, one of which FVV hit the arm that hits him, and the other Naz reaches around his body and fouls his back arm as he is jumping and gets hit by his other arm after the foul.
One is for him going after the refs in I think game 2 HOU that was not during play and completely unnecessary. Although again he was right about why he was mad at the refs.
So out of all of that he has committed one tech he deserved, earned one by losing his s***, and gotten 3 on utter BS that nobody else but him ever gets called on.
Like I get why he has a persecution complex with the refs since they are both garbage at their jobs as almost all replays show, and biased against him. Of course on replay review they say no foul on Gobert vs Payton despite him both hitting his head with his arm while shooting and pushing him in the back with his other hand while airborne. Dips*** Tony Brothers says thats not a foul though…
I do not understand why the warriorsdidn’t go to the league and have that one when Green broke up the argument removed? The NBA would have removed it like they do for other players.
They probably tried, or more likely the league does it on their own without team input. It was never going to happen though since its Draymond. They pulled Ants tech so he wouldnt be suspended for the final game of the season we will see if they do the same on Draymonds 7th if it isnt a black and white call.
In my opinion, he should’ve received a second tech after blasting the refs and the profanity.
Kick the bum out of the game.
It’s like dealing with a kid. If there is no punishment, they continue to do what they do.
But the reality is, and we all know this, it’s not up to those refs on the floor or any refs for that matter. They have a mandate of how much to take and from whom. I’m sure of it.
This is an entertainment business, and things aren’t run fairly, but under the discretion of the league.
So be it, this is the product we have as a result.
I think they let him have that since they knew it was a BS tech to begin with. Like he earned one tech last night and thats what he got.
Dude the NBA lets Brooks try to injure one of the leagues two biggest stars and doesnt even comment on him admitting it in a press conference. Like Draymond always checks on guys when he gets them Brooks plays like the dirtiest piece of s*** in the last 30 years of basketball.
Dray is an extremely talented basketball player with anger problems who has a bad relationship with the league thats probably 60% his fault and 40% theirs. I mean outside the Gobert incident nothing he has done in years has been malicious or caused another player injury. Half his techs at least come from him screaming at refs, usually over fouls he thinks they arent calling for him or Steph rather than for a play he made, and you know what a lot of the times he’s right and they are blowing a BS whistle where Steph gets fouled on every play with no call while any GSW rookie gets hit for the most ticky tack fouls…
I havent missed a single Warriors game since before 2020 even if I have to watch them late on DVR. He is right the refs suck and dont give the Warriors a fair shake, and that is a huge part of the problem between Green and the refs.
It needed something but it wasn’t that bad. The league is trying to protect necks and heads. We don’t need to be like the CTE NFL.
Ejecting a racist coward fan in the 4Q of a blowout? Maybe announce he’s been banned for life.
They played harder in the past. No cases of CTE.
Funny. In 2014, everyone said the Warriors were to soft. They never would have survived the 80’s. Curry would be lying flat on his a$$…A decade later. Draymond is a thug.
Man, it would be great to see some of the 80’s and 90’s guys matched up against Draymond. Can you imagine him and Rodman against each other in a 7 game series? Or Barkley. Bird. Lambeer, Oakley?? Or maybe even against Artest!
Yeah, I get so tired of people saying this stuff never happened. 4 rings and hypermedia changes how they view things.
“Agenda”?
The only thing close to an agenda is being more consistent calling techs.
Donkey thinks he’s being targeted but isn’t factoring in if he didn’t react physically he wouldn’t get whistled as much.
There’s a guy on the Lakers who argues every call against him who rarely gets a tech for doing it; but he doesn’t get physical about it
Draymond potentially being all of the things he described doesn’t change the fact he has anger management and impulse control issues. There are plenty of successful and well-adjusted people like that in the world. We all have our issues.
Unfortunately for Draymond, it seems that as many had thought, all of that therapy and soul-searching during his extended time off accomplished nothing. It’s back to the excuses and pity party again.
Guess what, buddy. We all have our issues and we’re all imperfect, but we also deal with the imperfect and sometimes unfair world around us. It’s simply a fact of life. You work with what you have and sometimes have to play the game. Man up and get the job done without sabotaging your teammates and yourself.
He doesn’t play smart. He should know he has a bullseye on his back and anything he does he will get a T or flagrant. You can see these set up and he still takes the bait. I just don’t understand why he can’t see how foolish he looks by over exageratting fouls.
Exactly. Whether or not every T is fair isn’t the point; he knows why they happen, how to prevent them, and the fact players will go after him. And, frankly, every player in the league has to deal with unfair calls from time to time, even if they’re just regular foul calls (or non-calls). It comes with the territory of sports in general. You either learn to deal with all of that or you don’t and find a scapegoat for the behavior in your control.
I mean its been 15 years in the making. Its why some marriages break up, sometimes you cant get past all the history and buildup over what should be a relatively small thing.
He had the ball vs Reid, then Reid reached around his weak side and touched his hip and Dray spazzed out and threw his arms and legs around and smacked Reid in the face. It was an idiotic play by a smart player who is overthinking what this does. He is too smart a player, he knows what he is doing, but he should know by now this is a low percentage play. It literally never works out in his favor.
Dray can shut everyone up forever is he doesn’t get another T all playoffs and GSW wins a ring. But he himself is delusional as to what he is allowed to do, and has too many yes men in Kerr and Curry around him who simply cannot reign him in.
It’s a simple “imagine if a player did that to Draymond” thing: what would he do? He would lie motionless for like 5 minutes and then get up and act like he got hit by a shovel when it was an errant open hand or leg hitting him. He is over the line, and no one can stop him other than suspending him.
BUT Curry is the one who should be acting out over not fouls! He is still getting brutalized on every damn play!
Stop trying to play the WWE Draymond…
He is who he is. Probably time to stop thinking he’s going to figure out self control anytime soon.
This is the NBA
It’s not Ruckers, The Cage, your backyard, the park down the block, etc. That’s where you leave physical retaliation.
You don’t pull this at any level of organized basketball and the NBA is organized basketball (allegedly) at its highest level.
Emotional outbursts are nothing new and everyone’s been guilty; but the real ones retaliate by scoring, rebounding, defending, etc.
They shut up and let their play do the talking.
This guy hasn’t run up on someone who has as much disregard for the necessity of composure. Luckily, there’s not as many around as there were in the 90s.
Lucky for him
So one hand you are saying they are soft now days but on the other hand you say Green is to physical? So which is it?
ps: guys like Rodman, Artest, and Wallace lived with their earned … EARNED … reputation.
Ironically, they’d live in this guy’s head rent free because after all these years he still hasn’t dealt with his biggest flaw as a player.
He’s earned this type of spotlight and all the unwanted attention that comes with it … and he’s bragged bout his image; he just seems to be under the delusion that he deserves a blind eye.
Lemme guess, you WORSHIPPED Laimbeer but hate Draymond?
Sigh
Draymond Green is a better NBA player than anyone you mentioned. Has 4 rings because of it.
What is his biggest flaw as a player? Draymond retaliates by creating plays for his team, and making them better. It has been that way since 1st stepped on the court with the Warriors.
We only talking dead ball technical fool instead of flagrant bc Naz fooled him first like FVV in game 7… 9 PO games 6 tech 2 flagrant.. He’s using the rule to throw punches and keep barking at the refs like no one. Enough of this drama queen BAN him once and for all.
“DirtyDra” strikes again …….
He’s his own worst enemy when it comes to crossing the line. In the old days. Someone would have decked him already.
What’s amazing to me how Warriors fans cry. Do any of you understand there are two teams playing. Do you have any respect for the game. Dra is who he is cause he wants to be that guy. How can you talk about rings. When your season was over before Jimmy. Jimmy has been great. The only thing any real fan should be watching. Is the next game. There are no guarantees especially for the Warriors. Rockets could have easily won that series. Yet you talk Finals. You guys are worse than Faker Fans. You can’t beat you opponent unless you respect your opponent. There is a reason why there is an opponent. Respect the game. You might actually enjoy the wins more.
Oh ……. In case you missed it. No Curry means its OVER ….. the crying has already begun though
If Knicks lost Brunson the playoffs would be over for the Knicks. That is how valuable Bronson is to the Knicks. Take out the top player on almost every team and they don’t get by the 2nd round.
Gee I git a my handkerchief out lol. We did get hurt last year. We had more than 6 players go down.
Did any Knick fan complain here. You are ALL babies. One fit away from becoming Marty ….
A guy who is clueless about ball ……
Its the playoffs ……. All teams are giod. And have a shot. Its not about Warriors woes. Its about who steps up. Nobody cares about Curry. Go cuddle with Marty and his 1000 Curry dolls ……. Men Play this Game.
Men respect Men ….
Who is crying about Curry going down? I don’t see anyone crying here about him going down. You self projects this crying. So name somebody that is crying? See you can’t name anyone…
Why would you bring up injuries. That’s crying. What do Knicks have to do with this. Thats crying. You come to play an adapt. Be thankful you have a Kuminga. Who actually can help for a few games. Its about holding it down till Curry gets back. Play the game in front of you. These are the playoffs. No one cares about Curry lol. Look for the positives……
I brought up how important both players to their team. You just put down warriors when they been the best team the last decade. I have not given up on this series. Tomorrow is a big game that they will win.
This is what Jimmy thinks of JKuminga …,
link to athlonsports.com
He’s a great basketball player. I can play with anybody. He can play with anybody. It’s all about playing basketball the right way. It’s all it is,” Butler said. “Just make the right play over and over again, every single time, no matter who you are out there with. Me and JK could thrive. We can and will thrive on the basketball court together.”
Jimmy can play the two. When playing with Kuminga. You can’t expect things from Kuminga. You have to help him fit in. Make it simple for him. Imo it should start on the defensive end. That’s how you help him.
I’m glad to see him supporting Kuminga, considering Kerr can’t seem to grasp things that most other coaches understand (like don’t pull red hot Kuminga (when he’s shot 7-7 up to that point when the lead was cut to 7 twice) just because you think it’s time to sub everyone that had cut the lead but Butler).