During a tense overtime victory against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors improved their record to 32-20, but a surprising incident involving Draymond Green captured significant attention. In the third quarter, Green executed a questionable move by grabbing Jabari Smith Jr.’s ankle, sparking debate about why the star player was not ejected despite the apparent foul. This incident occurred with 9:49 remaining in the quarter as Green, after falling to the floor due to an offensive foul called on Smith, reached out to impede Smith’s movement.
The play earned Green a technical foul rather than a flagrant or immediate ejection, allowing him to remain on the court. This disciplinary action came under scrutiny as many expected harsher consequences given the nature of the act. Green’s move echoed a recent incident involving Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort, who was ejected for tripping Nikola Jokic in a game on February 28th.
Comparison To Similar Incidents In The NBA
The referees’ decision to give Green only a technical foul stands out when compared to Lu Dort’s ejection. Dort was removed from his game after a perceived trip on Jokic, which also resulted in technical fouls for other players involved. Green’s action, although not leading to Smith falling, was deliberate and carried the potential to cause injury, yet it was met with a lighter sanction. This inconsistency sparked discussion regarding the enforcement of rules and fairness in officiating.
Green’s Impact On The Warriors’ Crucial Victory Despite Controversy
Instead of being removed from the game, Green continued to contribute significantly in a key contest for the Warriors, who were missing star guard Stephen Curry for the twelfth consecutive game. Green logged a season-high 35 minutes, producing 10 points, five rebounds, and eight assists as Golden State secured the win in overtime. With the Warriors fighting to maintain their position as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, Green’s presence on the floor proved invaluable.
Following the game, Green emphasized the team’s determination to persevere amid injuries:
“We’re trying to keep this thing afloat. Hopefully we can get (Steph) back at some point, get KP back, get Seth back. We’ve got to win some of these (games) that you’re not supposed to win.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised Green’s overall performance, focusing on his leadership and defensive intensity:
“That was vintage Draymond. The defense, the leadership, the force, the passing.”
Neither addressed the technical foul during postgame remarks, underscoring how the incident was overshadowed by the team’s focus on winning.
Draymond Green’s Record With On-Court Discipline
Green’s history of confrontations and ejections lends context to the latest episode. Over his NBA career, he has been ejected 24 times, mostly during regular seasons, including two dismissals within eight days earlier this year. His most recent ejection before this game involved a physical altercation with Phoenix Suns’ Collin Gillespie in January, a moment viewed as unnecessary aggression.
Despite the risky nature of Thursday’s ankle grab, Green escaped further punishment, allowing him to maintain his involvement in a critical matchup for the Warriors. This decision will likely fuel ongoing conversations about the consistency of refereeing and the balance between competitive intensity and sportsmanship in high-stakes NBA games.
Draymond Green was assessed a technical foul after he grabbed Jabari Smith Jr.'s ankle 👀
Good or bad call? 🤔pic.twitter.com/vUo1q0oyns
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 6, 2026
Lu Dort was ejected after appearing to trip Nikola Jokic on this play.
Nikola Jokic and Jaylin Williams both received technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/ZFyNHpigsM
— ESPN (@espn) February 28, 2026
