Draymond Green fights: 10 times Warriors star completely lost cool on NBA court

Warriors star Draymond Green has been an instrumental member of the Dubs dynasty and is a beloved figure among the Warriors faithful. However, Green is often seen at odds with officials and opponents on the court owing to his volatile style of play, and repetitive transgression.

The Warriors ‘enforcer’ has been penalized time and again for his unrepentant aggression on the court and is currently suspended from the league for an indefinite period. With his tendency to lose his cool ever so frequently, Green has been labeled a ‘liability’ on the court and a threat to player safety in the NBA.

Whether Draymond Green, who is now suspended from the NBA, will be able to recover his way back to the Warriors roster is still hanging in the balance. As the league sidelines Dray from on-court activities indefinitely, here are 10 such moments when the power forward completely lost his cool.

10. Fight with Bradley Beal

Back in October 2017, Draymond Green and Bradley Beal wound up in an intense on-court scuffle stemming from a loose ball situation. The two players wrestled and crashed into the Wizards bench area, with their on-court mates rushing into the chaotic scene.

The scuffle started when Beal whacked Green on the face during the play, and the two immediately went up against each other. Draymond Green emerged with his jersey torn at the end of the fight and both were immediately ejected from the game. Beal received a $50,000 fine while Green was fined $25,000.

9. Draymond Green punches Jordan Poole

Green has earned his notorious reputation for aggressive play on the court and lashing out against opponents and officials. But the time he clashed and literally punched then-teammate Jordan Poole, really sent a statement that Green’s volatility on the court is not limited to his opponents alone.

During the Warriors 2022 preseason camp, Green got in an altercation with Poole regarding their future contracts which escalated on the court. Green took matters into his own hands and pushed the youngster straight in the face.

In the aftermath of the event, the Warriors suspended the veteran for the rest of the preseason while Poole trained with the team. His clash with Poole would eventually see the Dubs having to trade the youngster to the Washington Wizards.

8. Pulling down Jaylen Brown’s shorts

In the 2022 NBA Finals Game 2, Green fouled Celtics Jaylen Brown upon his three-point attempt. Both landed on the hardwood and by the time they were back on their feet, there was already a scuffle between the two.

Brown alleged that Green had shoved him and, while getting back on his feet, attempted to pull his shorts down. The scuffle continued until their teammates intervened. Although the situation was assessed by referees, no technical fouls were issued on the occasion.

7. Scuffle with Kevin Durant

Back in November 2018, after an overtime loss at the hands of the LA Clippers, Draymond Green engaged in a heated argument with then-teammate Kevin Durant. Even when the other Dubs came in to separate the two, both KD and Green continued jawing at each other.

The dispute originally stemmed from Green’s reluctance to pass the ball to Durant in a crucial overtime play. Their altercation escalated when both players started trash-talking to each other.

Dray brought in KD’s free agency, which made matters worse. Draymond Green was then suspended for one game without pay in the aftermath of the incident.

6. Draymond Green kicks Steven Adams in the groin

In the 2016 Western Conference finals, the Warriors went against Russell Westbrook’s Oklahoma City Thunder. During Game 3, Green’s leg swung up and hit Thunder center Steven Adams straight up the groin.

Green was fined a hefty $25,000 for the play in the aftermath of the game. The Dubs enforcer insisted the act was unintentional, but so was almost every other foul of his career per Dray.

5. Swing at Jusuf Nurkic’s head

A dangerous swing during play that ultimately prompted the league to swing the axe on the Warriors enforcer – Draymond Green should have seen that one coming. Just days after being suspended five games for choke-holding Rudy Gobert, Green went back to his dirty play.

In the fateful game against the Phoenix Suns, Draymond Green took a full-force swing with his right hand which hit Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head. The NBA took matters in their hands and suspended Green indefinitely the day after.

4. Elbowing Blake Griffin in the neck

In a Christmas game against the LA Clippers back in 2013, Draymond Green threw an elbow at Blake Griffin. Originally directed towards Griffin’s head, Green’s elbow hit the player in his neck area.

Green was aptly handed a flagrant 2 foul, leading to his ejection from the game. Griffin, however, was ejected shortly after for a technical foul in the same fixture. Quite the Draymond Green Christmas special!

3. Stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest

Earlier in April, the Golden State Warriors went up against the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs. The game would see Draymond Green stomp on the Kings forward Domantas Sabonis’ chest. After the Warriors grabbed a defensive rebound, Sabonis fell on the floor and took a little too long to get back on his feet.

Green, about to run up the floor, found his foot being held by Sabonis, and as the forward didn’t let go, the Dubs enforcer stomped right on the lying player’s chest. Draymond Green was ejected with a flagrant 2 foul and suspended, while Sabonis received a technical foul for grabbing Dray’s foot.

2. Hits LeBron James in the groin

During the fateful 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Draymond Green committed one of the most infamous fouls of his career. In the dying minutes of Game 4, Green and LeBron James hit the floor entangled in the midcourt.

While getting back on his feet, Draymond Green swiped hard at LeBron’s groin area. Both players immediately got into a scuffle, where Green got a flagrant 1 foul.

The Dubs enforcer was then suspended for Game 5, which many claim to be the turning point that eventually let the Cavs make way for the Championship.

1. Draymond Green Choke-holds Rudy Gobert 

Yet another moment when Draymond Green totally couldn’t contain himself. During a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dubs, Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels got in a heated altercation. Rudy Gobert stepped in to move Thompson away from McDaniels.

Right when the Timberwolves Center grabbed Klay by the shoulders, Draymond Green took hold of Gobert in a chokehold and dragged him all the way from the half-court to the free-throw line.

All of those involved, including Klay Thompson, Jaden McDaniels and Draymond Green were immediately ejected. Green was suspended for five games without pay and at its heels came his indefinite suspension after the Jusuf Nurkic incident.

The exact conditions required of Green to make his way back to the court haven’t been determined by the NBA. Dubs will hope to see their enforcer return to the squad soon. The indefinite suspension might not be as long as many expect, albeit the time frame of his suspension remains uncertain. When do you think Draymond Green will return to the court?

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