Why Did Draymond Green Get Ejected - And Did He Deserve It?
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter when Domantas Sabonis slipped and fell in the paint while trying to go for the offensive rebound. He grabbed onto Green's leg, and after Green initially shook off Sabonis' grip, he took a hard step right on Sabonis' chest. Sabonis was called for a technical foul for grabbing Green's leg, and Green was given a flagrant foul 2 that led to his automatic ejection.
In explaining his side of the incident, Draymond Green said, "My leg got grabbed -- the second time in two nights -- and the referee is just watching. I got to land my foot somewhere, and I'm not the most flexible person, so it's not stretching that far. ... I can only step so far with someone pulling my leg away."
But was there more to the story? Did Sabonis do anything to provoke Green's reaction? Or was Green just being too competitive? Some have speculated that Green may have been using the ankle thing as an excuse for his actions against Sabonis, or was he really injured, too?
It's worth noting that this isn't the first playoff infraction for Green, who was suspended for one game during the 2016 NBA Finals after accumulating too many flagrant fouls in the playoffs that season.
During the in-game review, the fans in Sacramento yelled derogatory chants toward Green, who egged them on by waving his hands, holding a hand to his ear calling for louder jeers and standing on a chair with a towel wrapped around his shoulders.
While Green's actions were certainly unacceptable, some have pointed out that Sabonis also played a role in the incident. Sabonis grabbed Green's leg and prevented him from moving up the floor, which may have contributed to Green's frustration.
At the end of the day, it's up to the NBA to determine whether Green's actions warrant any additional suspension or punishment. Regardless of the outcome, it's clear that both sides have their own version of the story. As always, the truth likely lies somewhere in between.






