Warriors star Draymond Green is teetering dangerously close to an automatic suspension after picking up his fifth technical foul in nine playoff games, but he's pushing back against the narrative that his temper is a problem.
After he was hit with a technical foul for striking Timberwolves big man Naz Reid in the face with an elbow in Thursday night's Game 2 loss, Green made a brief but very intentional statement to reporters in the locker room.
Green believes the way he's being portrayed — not the way he's behaving on the court — is the biggest factor in his shaky reputation as he approaches the technical foul limit for a Warriors team that badly needs him on the court in Stephen Curry's absence.
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Here's what Green had to say after the Warriors' defeat in Minnesota.
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What did Draymond Green say?
Green only delivered a brief statement to reporters in the Warriors' locker room after Thursday's loss, calling out a "ridiculous agenda" to make him "look like an angry Black man."
"I'm not an angry black man. I'm a very successful, educated Black man with a great family. I'm great at basketball. I'm great at what I do," Green said. "The agenda to continue to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. It's ridiculous."
Draymond Green just wanted to give one quick postgame statement: “The agenda to continue to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I’m sick of it. It’s ridiculous.” pic.twitter.com/ay7TLFhjWL
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 9, 2025
Whether Green was targeting the media, NBA officials or both is unclear. He has complained about the way he's been portrayed in the media before, but on Thursday, it was the officials he drew his ire during the game. Green was irate when his hit to the face of Reid was called a technical foul. He appeared to be trying to sell a foul call against Reid but took the effort a step too far in the eyes of the officials.
Draymond Green elbows Naz Reid in the head, after a foul by Reid (with replays).
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) May 9, 2025
Upon review, Green received a technical foul.
His fifth technical in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/gr0vKeQc18
After the game, coach Steve Kerr said Green was aware he has to keep his emotions in check going forward to avoid an automatic suspension. "He's going to have to stay composed and I'm confident he will," Kerr told reporters.
Green had a quieter offensive night in Game 2 after back-to-back games of at least 16 points, scoring nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. Green's four rebounds were his fewest since a Game 5 loss to the Rockets in the previous round.
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