Draymond Green can’t help it.
The Warriors entered Wednesday’s game against the Magic fighting to remain in the Play-In bracket with 11 games remaining in the NBA season. They had a one-game lead over the Rockets for 10th place in the Western Conference.
Golden State cruised to a 101-93 victory in Orlando, but the team did so largely without Green.
Less than four minutes into the game, the All-Star forward received a pair of technical fouls for arguing a called foul. He was ejected with 8:24 left in the first quarter.
Why was Green expelled? And how did teammate Steph Curry and coach Steve Kerr react? The Jugo Mobile breaks down the sequence and consequences below.
Draymond Green sent off against Magic
Green played less than four minutes in the Warriors’ game Wednesday night against the Magic before being ejected.
In the first quarter, Orlando star forward Paolo Banchero attacked the rim against Andrew Wiggins, finishing through contact while drawing a foul for an and-one.
Although Green wasn’t defending the play, he didn’t mind the call. The Warriors forward confronted NBA official Ray Acosta, arguing the foul. He committed a quick technical foul when his teammates, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, tried to get him out of the situation.
However, Green didn’t let it go. He continued barking at the referee as he walked toward the bench, so Acosta gave Green a second technical foul, ejecting him from the game.
Draymond received two technical fouls and was ejected after arguing with the referee. pic.twitter.com/tn2muDIXGo
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 27, 2024
Green addressed the incident Thursday by saying on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” that he deserved the ejection.
Draymond talks about the expulsion on “The Draymond Green Show.”
“It just can’t happen. I said what I said, I deserved to be thrown out at that moment. I wish I could have turned my body, leaned over and gone to the bench, but yeah, it just can’t happen.” “.
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 28, 2024
Stephen Curry’s reaction to Draymond Green’s expulsion
Curry was visibly upset by Green’s lack of composure after the ejection.
The Warriors were already without starting forward Jonathan Kuminga in the contest due to left knee soreness. Without Green, they were left without another key defender against the Magic with their playoff hopes on the line.
However, after the game, Curry hugged Green as he walked to the locker room.
Draymond and Steph hug after the game ?
?: @Warriors https://t.co/gOKLUW4yqK pic.twitter.com/YgitQj4vrR
– Sports news (@sportingnews) March 28, 2024
Kerr described the expulsion “What a shame” and “unfortunate” in his post-match comments, although he did not object to the referees’ decision: “He deserved it.”
The coach had recently spoken of his pride in Green’s growth throughout the season. This expulsion did not diminish that, he said.
Draymond Green’s history of ejections and technical fouls
Green committed his ninth and 10th technical foul against the Magic, tying it for ninth place in the NBA this season. This was also his fourth ejection of the season. who leads the NBA.
This was the second time Green was ejected in the first quarter of a game this season. He was also ejected in the first quarter when he put Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock in November.
Additionally, Green served an indefinite suspension (lasting 12 games) after kicking Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head in December.
Green is making poor progress toward Rasheed Wallace’s all-time ejection record (29). This marked the 21st career expulsionwhich is the second most in NBA history.
