Draymond Green Ejected Early in Warriors-Suns Rematch, Adding More Heat to Budding Rivalry
It just wouldn’t be a Golden State Warriors season without a little Draymond Green fire-and on Saturday night, that fire got him tossed before halftime.
In what’s quickly becoming one of the Western Conference’s more physical matchups, Green was ejected with 10:39 left in the second quarter of the Warriors’ rematch against the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center. The moment boiled over after Green was called for a foul-he shoved Suns guard Collin Gillespie in the back following a block on the other end-and didn’t hold back his frustration with the officials. That earned him back-to-back technical fouls in quick succession, and just like that, his night was over.
Teammates and head coach Steve Kerr tried to calm things down, but the officials had made their decision. Green’s ejection came just nine minutes into his night, leaving Golden State without one of its emotional and defensive anchors for the remainder of a high-stakes game.
This wasn’t just any regular-season matchup. The two teams had squared off just two nights earlier in Phoenix, where the Suns edged out a one-point win in a game that saw Dillon Brooks commit a flagrant foul on Stephen Curry.
So tensions were already high when the ball tipped in San Francisco. Green’s early exit only intensified what’s fast becoming a chippy, must-watch rivalry.
Before getting tossed, Green had posted four points, three rebounds, one assist, and a block-solid numbers in limited time, but his real value lies in his ability to quarterback the defense and inject energy into the lineup. Without him, Kerr had to dig deeper into his bench to find answers against a Suns team that knows how to exploit mismatches.
This is the double-edged sword of Draymond Green. His passion fuels the Warriors-his voice, his edge, his willingness to challenge anyone in the building.
But it can also leave them scrambling when that passion crosses the line. Saturday night was a reminder of just how fine that line can be.
As he walked off the floor, Green didn’t look surprised. This is the “Draymond Experience” in full effect: loud, unapologetic, and, at times, costly.