For the third time this season and the 19th time in his career, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from a game.
With the Warriors holding a five-point lead over the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter on Tuesday night, Green spun toward Jusuf Nurkic, hitting him directly in the face. Nurkic fell to the floor before officials decided to review the incident. Green and Nurkic appeared to be battling for position while the Warriors attempted an inbound play on the sideline.
Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:
Draymond Green was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected after this play
📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/jClS7iHzQr
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 13, 2023
Green was later assessed a flagrant two-foul and was ejected from the game. Through 23 games, Green has already been ejected against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Each game Green has been ejected from has resulted in a loss for the Warriors. After being ejected for choking Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Green was suspended for five games.
With Green in the locker room, the Suns stole the lead away and went on to deal the Warriors a 119-116 loss in Phoenix. Before being ejected, Green tallied two points, two assists and two rebounds in 17 minutes.
Following Green’s ejection, the NBA community on Twitter exploded with reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Twitter on Tuesday night,
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Draymond when the Ref turns away pic.twitter.com/pyQd5OtHUy
— Dark Skinned Patrick Mahomes (@mroliverkc) December 13, 2023
Draymond has been ejected after flagrant foul on Nurkić pic.twitter.com/RmrLU5tdw8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2023
I love the way draymond explains incidents like they happened when he was in his werewolf form https://t.co/sunAFO6MxR
— jason concepcion (@netw3rk) December 13, 2023
“What’s going on with him, that brother needs help” -Nurkic on Draymond
💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/y6dM11SN7d
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 13, 2023
Suns' Jusuf Nurkic on Warriors' Draymond Green after ejection: "What's going on with him? I don't know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I'm glad he didn't try to choke me. At the same time, it ain't nothing to do with basketball."
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) December 13, 2023
Draymond Green warming up before games pic.twitter.com/oRjP9RrYkR
— Jasmine (@JasmineLWatkins) December 13, 2023
Draymond Green to a random opposing player on a Tuesday evening pic.twitter.com/3jim6diqdH
— Juan 🇸🇻 (@LOLL________) December 13, 2023
I know this is going to sound very “old media” of me… but I really think Draymond Green should stop punching, choking, tackling & kicking other players, teammates or otherwise.
But I’m sure I don’t understand the deep nuances of why this makes him “the ultimate teammate.”
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 13, 2023
This is how Draymond Green warms up for games pic.twitter.com/lril1dTphz
— Sourdeath Sam (@SourdeathSam) December 13, 2023
Draymond is the LVP of the season so far.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 13, 2023
Warriors gave Draymond $100M and he’s been the opposite of a leader. Instead he’s costing them wins and visiting LeBron in Vegas.
— Sean Jordan (@BaySean) December 13, 2023
For all of the justified frustration at Draymond… He's our second best player on both ends when he isn't ejected or suspended. He's too important for this behavior…but to blame this season's performance on him is ignoring MUCH bigger issues. pic.twitter.com/zMqrwGUdjE
— The Book of Barnett (@BookOfBarnett) December 13, 2023
Draymond is full unhinged this season pic.twitter.com/Q7LIrl0QjS
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 13, 2023
Draymond needs to be held accountable internally, not just by the league. This is getting freakin’ ridiculous.
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) December 13, 2023
Draymond Green will have to await a league office review and the possibility of another suspension. https://t.co/6IYcnSdjww
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 13, 2023
Nobody
Draymond: pic.twitter.com/rYticjowzo
— Trill Clinton (Kenny Porter’s Toothpick) (@kocorner_thatc) December 13, 2023
Draymond Greens most memorable NBA moments will not involve basketball highlights https://t.co/q0wTPnrF8A
— Kofie.bsky.social (@Kofie) December 13, 2023
Draymond in the last 2 years… Historic run pic.twitter.com/eLMf1v9YwJ
— LegendOfWinning (@LegendOfWinning) December 13, 2023
Draymond trippin cuz smh. Damn!
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) December 13, 2023
“I apologize to Nurkić.”
Draymond says his intention was to not hit Nurkić, which led to his ejection pic.twitter.com/uy3tUcE7pG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2023
Come on Draymond 😳 pic.twitter.com/1Et4DQeQv7
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) December 13, 2023
Tonight is Draymond's 15th game this season
He has been ejected 3 times
He has been suspended for 5 games
He has missed 2 games to injury and 1 for personal reasons— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) December 13, 2023
Draymond is now detrimental to the Warriors. Benefits used to outweigh the costs. Not to mention he plays like a domesticated cat against the Lakers instead of a junkyard dog. I’m done.
— Sean Jordan (@BaySean) December 13, 2023
Warriors playing well with Podz/Kuminga in about to make a run so Draymond gotta do some stupid and get himself ejected. Story of the season 👍
— Grandson of the Wind Stan Account (@AndyKHLiu) December 13, 2023
Steph is out there still playing like an MVP begging for some support and all he’s getting is Klay holding up 4 fingers after shooting over 3 defenders, Draymond practicing his right hook, and Steve Kerr beefing with opposing arenas’ DJs
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) December 13, 2023
Klay Thompson and Chris Paul are washed
Draymond Green wants to play a different sportSteph Curry: pic.twitter.com/grIBPLAlmv
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) December 13, 2023
In 11 of the 23 games that the Warriors have played, Draymond Green has been injured, suspended, ejected, or absent due to personal reasons.
This team is going nowhere without him on the court.
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) December 13, 2023
Draymond Green is becoming the caricature people painted him as. As a premiere appreciator of his game, it makes me sad
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) December 13, 2023
Draymond Green:
Great teammate!*
Foxhole guy!**
Relentless competitor!***
*Unless you’re he sucker punches you days before you open your title defense.
**Suspended from the foxhole for repeatedly acting like a maniac.
***Chokes & punches guys when his team needs him most.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 13, 2023
After the Poole trade the Warriors are clearly lacking someone in their locker room that they can use as a literal punching bag for Draymond. That’s why he’s taking his anger out on all these European big men on other teams
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) December 13, 2023
For all the talk about leadership, it’s going to be interesting to see how the locker room responds after tonight.
— Tommy Call III (@tommy_III) December 13, 2023
