SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors veteran Draymond Green is facing a likely suspension for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a scuffle between both teams during Tuesday night’s game.
The fight unfolded two minutes after tipoff, before either team scored, when Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels got into a skirmish after a handsy box out by the Warriors veteran. McDaniels ripped Thompson’s jersey as they pushed and pulled each other as they made their way down the court. When both teams entered the fray to pull the two apart, Green caught Gobert pulling Thompson away from the scuffle by the neck and within a second he grabbed Gobert in a headlock to pull him away.
Green didn’t let go of Gobert for nine seconds, was issued a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected along with Thompson and McDaniels. Officials deemed Gobert acted as a “peacemaker” and didn’t punish him. A suspension for Green is likely in order as the NBA is reportedly reviewing the incident and interviewing players involved, according to ESPN.
“It’s kind of funny because before the game, I was telling myself that Steph (Curry) is not playing, so I know Draymond is going to try and get ejected,” Gobert told reporters after the game. “Because every time Steph doesn’t play, he doesn’t want to play — it’s his guy Steph. He’ll do anything he can to get ejected.”
Steve Kerr defended both Green and Thompson.
“There is no way Klay should have been ejected,” the coach said. “That’s ridiculous … as far as the Draymond part, Rudy had his hands on Klay’s neck. That’s why Draymond went after Rudy.”
Whatever decision is made for Green will likely come before the Warriors’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. History isn’t on Green’s side when it comes to the NBA.
The league established something of a “Draymond Rule” after a run-in with Domantas Sabonis in the first round of the playoffs last season. In transition after a Kings’ miss, Green appeared to stomp on Sabonis’ chest, though replay showed Sabonis was grabbing Green’s leg to prevent him from moving. Sabonis remained in the game while Green was ejected and further suspended for a critical Game 3 with the Warriors down 2-0.
Back then, NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars said in a statement Green was punished further because he was a “repeat offender.” Green now has 19 career ejections and four suspensions.
Green also has a contentious history with Gobert. Mostly, the one-time Defensive Player of the Year Green doesn’t appreciate being compared to three-time DPOY Gobert as he sees their defensive impacts as nothing alike. Green called that out during the 2022 All-Star Game on TNT, when he made an appearance and took issue with the analysts’ comparison of the two.
“You keep mentioning me in the same sentence with him. We’re not alike,” Green said. “We ain’t nothing alike.”
In 2019, Green mocked Gobert for crying over a missed All-Star selection.
“I guess I should cry too,” Green said in a tweet. “No Charlotte???”
Beef aside, Green’s likely absence comes at an inopportune time for the Warriors as they try to navigate out of a four-game losing streak with Curry day-to-day while nursing a sore knee. Green,, who missed all of training camp with a sprained ankle, is still rounding into full playing shape.
