— Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected early in the second quarter of Saturday night’s 119-116 win over the Phoenix Suns after receiving two technical fouls in quick succession. The sequence began when Green blocked Collin Gillespie’s shot with 10:45 left in the quarter and later collided with Gillespie as the Warriors pushed in transition; an initial technical was assessed at the 10:39 mark. Green then confronted official Pat Fraher and continued to argue while walking toward the scorer’s table, drawing a second technical and an immediate ejection. The Warriors rallied from a nine-point deficit after the ejection and secured the comeback victory.
Key Takeaways
- Game outcome: Warriors defeated Suns 119-116 on Dec 20, 2025; the team recovered after Green’s ejection to snap a three-game skid.
- Ejection sequence: Green blocked a shot at 10:45 of the second quarter, received an initial technical at 10:39 after contact, then a second technical for extended confrontation that led to ejection.
- Career mark: This was Green’s first ejection of the 2025-26 season and the 21st regular-season disqualification of his NBA career.
- Coach reaction: Steve Kerr publicly called the second technical “weak” and contrasted it with a prior incident involving Dillon Brooks that drew a flagrant call but no ejection.
- Disciplinary context: The Warriors contacted the league after the Brooks incident earlier in the week, requesting review; no suspension or fine was issued to Brooks between games.
- Team impact: Stephen Curry said Green’s ejection energized the roster, and the Warriors’ second-half performance delivered the eventual win.
Background
The game took place in San Francisco on Dec 20, 2025, as the Warriors hosted the Suns. Tensions between the teams were already heightened by an incident two nights earlier in Phoenix, when Dillon Brooks struck Stephen Curry in the stomach during a follow-through and officials ruled it a flagrant foul without ejecting Brooks. That play prompted the Warriors to request league attention between games, believing stronger discipline was warranted.
Draymond Green has a well-documented history of technical fouls and altercations; league records show this marks his 21st regular-season ejection. The NBA’s officiating and replay protocols have been under scrutiny all season, with teams and coaches citing inconsistent enforcement on physical plays versus verbal confrontation. Coaches and players frequently debate how replay and post-game discipline are applied, especially in incidents that involve intent and history.
Main Event
The decisive sequence unfolded early in the second quarter. Green blocked Collin Gillespie at 10:45, and the two exchanged words as they moved upcourt. At 10:39, as Stephen Curry completed a transition three, Green collided with Gillespie; official Pat Fraher assessed the initial technical for the contact. Rather than walking away, Green openly mocked the technical gesture and followed Fraher toward the scorer’s table, continuing to argue vocally.
After that sustained protest, the crew issued a second technical, and team security escorted Green from the bench area to the locker room. The ejection occurred while the Warriors trailed by nine points, forcing Golden State to adjust rotations and personnel for the remainder of the first half and the second half. With Green off the floor, role players and Stephen Curry stepped up to mount the comeback that culminated in the 119-116 win.
Postgame, coach Steve Kerr criticized the officiating and contrasted the Green ejection with the earlier Brooks incident in Phoenix, arguing the league’s responses appeared inconsistent. Curry later described the ejection as a galvanizing event for the team, saying the group responded with increased focus after Green’s removal.
Analysis & Implications
On the surface, the sequence is a straightforward enforcement of technical-foul rules for unsportsmanlike conduct and dissent; an initial technical for physical contact followed by a second technical for continued verbal escalation is consistent with NBA procedure. However, the broader implication is the perception of uneven adjudication across similar incidents. The Warriors cite the Brooks episode as evidence of disparate outcomes when physical harm appears greater than verbal confrontation.
From a competitive standpoint, the ejection removed a key defensive and emotional leader from the lineup. Green’s absence forces the Warriors to rely more on forwards such as Draymond’s usual backups and to alter defensive matchups. The team’s ability to overcome that disruption and secure a win speaks to depth and Curry’s leadership, but it also raises questions about how sustainable that approach will be if key players are frequently unavailable due to ejections or suspensions.
For the league, recurring high-profile discipline controversies can affect public perception of officiating credibility. If teams and coaches perceive inconsistency—where a hard physical foul receives different consequences than sustained dissent—it pressures the NBA to clarify enforcement guidelines or to use replay and fines more transparently. Any disciplinary follow-up by the league for either incident would set a precedent affecting player conduct late this season.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Warriors 119, Suns 116 — Dec 20, 2025 |
| Ejection timing | Second quarter; initial block at 10:45, technical assessed at 10:39 |
| Green career ejections | 21 regular-season disqualifications |
The table highlights the immediate facts of the contest and Green’s career ejection total. While single-game numbers—score and clock events—are precise, the career ejection figure places the incident in the context of Green’s long-term on-court temperament and disciplinary history. Statistical comparison to league averages for ejections would require a broader dataset, but Green’s 21 career ejections mark him among the more frequently ejected players in recent NBA history.
Reactions & Quotes
“I thought it was weak,”
Steve Kerr, Warriors coach (postgame)
Kerr used the comment to express frustration about the sequence and to compare the outcome with the Brooks incident earlier in the week, arguing the league’s responses appeared inconsistent.
“It kind of woke us up,”
Stephen Curry, Warriors guard
Curry suggested the ejection served as a rallying point; the team tightened focus afterward and produced a stronger second half to close out the game.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the officiating crew considered Brooks’ earlier punch eligible for immediate ejection on-site; league reasoning for not ejecting him has not been publicly detailed.
- Whether the NBA will impose fines or suspensions on Dillon Brooks or Draymond Green following league review; no official league discipline was announced immediately between games.
Bottom Line
The ejection of Draymond Green on Dec 20, 2025, is both a discrete game event and a flashpoint in an ongoing debate about consistency in NBA discipline. While the technicals themselves align with the immediate game rules—physical contact followed by vocal dissent—the juxtaposition with the earlier Brooks incident has amplified concerns about unequal outcomes for physical versus verbal infractions.
For the Warriors, the short-term result was positive: they won the game and halted a losing streak. For the league and its fans, however, the episode raises practical questions about enforcement thresholds and the role of replay and postgame discipline. How the NBA addresses these controversies in its communications or any future sanctions will matter for competitive fairness and the perception of officiating standards.