Golden States Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined $25,000 by the NBA after he flipped off the Memphis Grizzlies crowd during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday night.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/Q7uU2BTZuz
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 5, 2022
The first two games of the second round between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies have been action-packed for Green. A Flagrant 2 foul against Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke resulted in his dismissal from Game 1.
After the incident with Clarke in Game 2, which the Grizzlies won 106–101, he scored six points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists to his credit.
Green’s incident
Grizzlies’ supporters booed Draymond when he suffered an injury, something he didn’t like. His response was met with disapproval by the NBA.
Green then was elbowed in the head by Grizzlies center Xavier Tillman midway through Game 2, which sparked yet another altercation. Tillman flung his left arm out and elbowed Green in the face as Green ran for a loose ball. No foul was called on the play, and Green fell to the ground instantly. Injured his right eye, Green departed the court for the locker room after the Warriors called a timeout.
Draymond gets elbowed across the face.#NBAPlayoffs #NBA #Green #Elbow pic.twitter.com/cM8DoxBVlb
— Basketball Craze (@bball_craze) May 4, 2022
A laceration to the right eye of Golden State’s forward forced him to enter the locker room during the first quarter of Tuesday’s game. Shortly before he returned to the locker room, Green extended both middle fingers to Grizzlies fans in the stands. Since then, the NBA has imposed a $25,000 fine on him.
The incident occurred seconds after Grizzlies player Dillon Brooks knocked out the Warriors’ Gary Payton II with a hard foul resulting in a fractured elbow.
Aftermath
During the postgame, Green said that he was comfortable with being fined. “If you’re gonna boo somebody who got elbowed in the eye and face running down blood, you should get flipped off,”
“So, I’ll take the fine. I’ll do an appearance and make up the money. But it felt really good to flip them off. You’re gonna boo someone that gets elbowed in the eye and blood running down their face? I could’ve had a concussion or anything. If they’re gonna be that nasty, I can be nasty, too. I’m assuming the cheers were because they know I’ll get fined.”
Draymond Green on flipping the middle finger to the Memphis fans:
"It felt really good flipping them off… I'll take the fine. I'll go do an appearance and make the money…. If they gonna be that nasty, I can be nasty too… I make $25 million a year I should be just fine" pic.twitter.com/oAeOoi7AmS
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) May 4, 2022
After his dismissal from Game 1 against Memphis, Green had a history of animosity with the city’s supporters. “Throw him out” was screamed at Green by fans at the FedEx Forum as referees assessed the play that brought Green’s night to an end. Even though Green was ejected by the officials, the Grizzlies could not prevent the Warriors from establishing a 1-0 lead in the series. They did manage to avenge themselves by winning Game 2 106-101.
The NBA has never approved players giving their fans the middle finger. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving was fined $50,000 in the first round of the NBA playoffs for making the identical gesture against the Boston Celtics fans.
Green was also hit by a controversial ban in Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2016.
The middle finger incident is only the latest in a long line of mishaps for the star forward.