Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors was ejected during Saturday’s match against the Utah Jazz, marking his 24th career ejection and the 22nd in regular season play. This incident marked the second time he had been thrown out in the last eight games.
The ejection came after Green made a defensive move against Kyle Filipowski of the Jazz. Following a play, Green gestured toward a nearby referee, likely asking for a three-second violation call against himself. After the Jazz scored, he let out an angry shout, which led to a technical foul.
Once the whistle blew, Green approached referee Kevin Cutler and seemed to vocally criticize his decision. Almost immediately after, a second technical foul was called, resulting in Green leaving the game.
Following the match, both Green’s teammates and coach Steve Kerr stood by him despite the ejection.
Kerr commented, “I didn’t catch what he said, but it was brief. He got the T quickly, and then Cutler ejected him just as fast. I suspect it was something Cutler wouldn’t let slide,” he added.
Kerr expressed the importance of Green on the team, stating, “We need Draymond on the court. I want him to play.” He noted that with the season still young, Green’s total of nine technicals might grow.
Stephen Curry, a key player for the Warriors, shared that he felt Green’s actions didn’t merit an ejection. “I’m not sure what he said to the referee,” Curry reflected. “I honestly didn’t see that coming. Most of us in the locker room thought it wasn’t enough to get him thrown out.”
Ultimately, the Warriors secured a victory against the Jazz, finishing the game at 123-114, which improved their record to 19 wins and 17 losses. Interestingly, Green and Kerr had a previous incident involving a heated exchange on the bench during a game against the Orlando Magic in December.
