On April 17, during the second game of a playoff stint between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings, Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from the game after stomping on Kings center Domantas Sabonis.
Green did this in reaction to Sabonis wrapping his hands around Green’s ankle after Sabonis fell on the court in pursuit of a rebound.
This dispute occurred with roughly seven minutes to go in the 4th quarter. Green was assessed a flagrant-2 foul, which led to the ejection, while Sabonis was given a technical foul after their scuffle.
In an interview between ESPN’s Malika Andrews and Joe Dumars, the Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations of the NBA, Dumars gave some insight into what led to the NBA’s decision to suspend Green from game three.
“Here’s what it came down to: excessive and over-the-top actions, conduct detrimental and a repeat offender,” Dumars told ESPN in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “That’s what separates this where you end up with a suspension.”
Dumars isn’t wrong, as Green isn’t new to physical altercations with other players. Earlier in the season, Green punched his own teammate, guard Jordan Poole, in practice. Additionally, Green kicked center Steven Adams below the belt in the groin, not once, but twice, in the same playoff matchup back in 2016.
The list of altercations doesn’t stop there, either.
In the 2019 NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals, Green poked the eye of Houston Rockets guard James Harden twice in the same series. Then, in a 2021 regular-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Green ripped down forward Kawhi Leonard mid-air after Leonard went up for a layup attempt.
Then there are all the dirty plays Green had against the Cleveland Cavaliers during their NBA Finals matchups from 2015-18. The most notable play being the elbow to Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert after a jump-ball between Warriors center Javal McGee and Cavaliers forward LeBron James.
There is a mix of opinions when it comes to the reaction from the NBA community. However, most see the suspension as a necessary response to Green’s actions.
“Should this be a surprise to anyone? Draymond was trying to stomp on someone’s rib bones while the guy was lying flat. Draymond is a 200+ pound pro athlete; that’s an extremely dangerous move,” one Reddit user said.
“Good, I’m legitimately worried about what the guy (Green) would do if he didn’t get suspended and the Kings got the Warriors by the throat next game,” said another Reddit user. “It’s like a child saying they didn’t mean to over and over.”
Among the fans that agree with the suspension, there’s a camp that also believes Sabonis deserves punishment for this altercation.
“So he’s (Green) the only one punished? He wasn’t the only one at fault,” said a Twitter user. “You could say the incident would have never happened if it wasn’t for Sabonis grabbing his leg. But Draymond gets ejected and misses the rest of game two, and now he will also miss game three?”
“It was foolish, and he deserved to be ejected and suspended a game,” another Reddit user commented. “But, Sabonis was the instigator; Sabonis deserves the same or worse because he started it. The NBA has just rewarded Sabonis and the Kings for flopping onto the floor and tugging at an opposing player’s leg. Unequivocally hostile and in no way possibly a basketball play.”
Ironically enough, while the two quotes above reflect a Sabonis suspension would make the situation fair, Sabonis’ status remains questionable heading into game three of the series.
As a result of being stomped on by Green, Sabonis now has a sternum contusion. Meaning Sabonis could miss up to four weeks with the injury.
Where it stands now, the Warriors are favorites to win game three of the series. However, in the nine games Green has missed this regular season for the Warriors, their record has been 3-6.
It’s clear Green’s suspension will negatively impact the Warriors. However, with Sabonis’ status still questionable, both teams will likely have to play without their impactful big men ahead of game three of the series.
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