nypost
It took only seven games, one half, and a mere two minutes of play for Draymond Green to receive his first ejection of his 12th NBA season. The Warriors' fiery defensive anchor was assessed two technical fouls on a single play early in the second half against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, leading to his dismissal to the locker room.
The incident began when Suns center Khaman Maluach caught an entry pass and went up for a shot near the rim. Green wrapped both arms around the 7-footer and brought him to the floor. The situation quickly escalated as players from both teams converged, with Devin Booker rushing into the scrum to defend his teammate. Booker confronted Green face-to-face, and the two players grabbed each other.
Green was initially called for a personal foul on the contact with Maluach. Following a lengthy video review, officials assessed him a technical foul for what they deemed a throwdown. Green and Booker were also given double technicals for their altercation. The sequence resulted in two technical fouls for Green and his first ejection of the season—the 26th of his career.
Green, who had sat out the first half of the Warriors' back-to-back the previous night, logged 17 minutes and finished with four points, four rebounds, and two assists. At the time of his ejection, Golden State trailed Phoenix 68-57.
Key Analysis
Green's ejection underscores his reputation as an emotional leader, but it also highlights the fine line he walks between intensity and indiscipline. The Warriors, already managing his workload in a back-to-back set, lost their defensive cornerstone early in the second half. The technical fouls on Green and Booker reflect the heightened tensions in a competitive Western Conference matchup, and Green's absence left a void that Golden State struggled to fill.
Originally reported by nypost.