SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was kicked out of Thursday night’s game against the New York Knicks after appearing to yell at his teammate, rookie James Wiseman.
Coach Steve Kerr said that after the game I am Taylor, the referee, admitted at half-time that the sophomore official John Butler he thought Green was yelling at him and made a mistake, giving the attacker his second technical foul.
Green, who picked up his first technique of the game with 4:02 left in the first quarter after too much arguing with the umpires, had his second technique with 1:04 left in the second quarter after turning the ball over on a targeted pass . against Wiseman.
On the way back to court, Green’s voice echoed through one Chase Center almost empty as he seemed to vent his frustration with the rookie. When the whistle sounded and Green was evaluated with his second coach, the Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, and several members of his staff tried to explain to the umpire team that Green’s anger was aimed at the rookie center. But after hearing Green’s screams at various times during the night and hearing his frustration again, it was enough to warrant an expulsion.
Green pointed to Wiseman and tried to explain what had happened when Warriors observatory Stephen Curry defended the case, but after a few seconds Green returned to the Warriors bench and high-fives his teammates on their way back to the locker room. Wiseman walked dejectedly to the other side of the track after the whistle sounded before realizing that Green had been sent away.
Green has repeatedly praised the 19-year-old for the talent he has shown at various points in the season, but his tendency to get angry with the rookie was evident at various points in matches. The same kind of trade took place after Green’s loss in Wednesday night’s win over the San Antonio Spurs; Green yelled at Wiseman that he was not in the right place on the floor.
“I have yet to earn my respect,” Wiseman said during a video conference with reporters, explaining why he was uncomfortable with Green at this point in his career. So I’m not going to say anything else. I just say ‘OK’ and I get better at that. So that’s what I do. I’m not saying anything else. ‘