Green’s Early Exit
Warriors’ forward Draymond Green found himself unable to control his emotions yet again, receiving two technical fouls within the first quarter against the Magic. He was ejected from the game in less than 4 minutes, leaving his teammate Stephen Curry visibly frustrated.
Frustration Boils Over
After receiving his first technical foul from referee Ray Acosta, Green continued to argue with Acosta. Following a score by Paolo Banchero and a foul called on Curry, Green’s outburst towards Acosta led to another technical foul. Despite Curry’s attempts to calm him down, Green was ejected from the game with 8 minutes and 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Career-High Ejections for Green
This marks the fourth ejection of the season for Green, setting a new career high. He also becomes the first player since Kevin Durant in the 2017-2018 season to be ejected at least four times in a single season.
Kerr’s Response
Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr described Green’s early departure from the game as unfortunate but acknowledged that it was a consequence of his actions. However, Kerr added that he believes Green will bounce back from this incident.
Impressive Stats
This season, Green’s ejection in the first quarter marks the second time, making him the only player in the last 20 seasons to be ejected more than once in the first quarter.
Warriors Secure Victory
Despite Green’s absence, the Warriors managed to secure a 101-93 victory against the Magic, led by Andrew Wiggins with 23 points and crucial plays from Stephen Curry down the stretch.
Green’s Troubled History
This is not the first time Green has faced disciplinary issues. Last season, he was suspended for five games after an altercation involving Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves.
Conclusion
Although Green’s ejection within the first 4 minutes is not NBA’s fastest, it adds to his troubled history of on-court behavior. With 19 regular-season ejections in his career, Green ranks second only to Rasheed Wallace in the past 25 seasons. (Betso88)