Warriors' Draymond Green Fined $50K for Questioning Integrity of NBA Officials
Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green's words have landed him in some hot water once again.
The NBA announced on Wednesday that Green has been fined $50,000 for "making an inappropriate comment that questions the integrity of game officials" during the Warriors' Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the fine stemmed from Green appearing to reference the 5.5-point spread with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game 3. The Warriors connected on a three-pointer in the final moments and lost 102-97, covering the spread.
Green has been no stranger to verbal dustups throughout his career and throughout this postseason. He incurred his fifth technical foul of the playoffs in Game 2 against Minnesota, putting him two away from receiving an automatic one-game suspension. After that game, he spoke out about what he perceives to be an ongoing "agenda" against him.
"I'm not an angry Black man. I am a very successful, educated Black man with a great family, and I am great at basketball and great at what I do. The agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry Black man is crazy," Green told reporters after Game 2. "I'm sick of it. It's ridiculous."
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that he's had to reel Green in at times, but he feels his fiery personality is what makes him effective.
"It's part of Draymond," Kerr said after Game 2. "It's the same thing that makes him such a competitor and a winner, puts him over the top sometimes, and we know that and it's our job to try to help him stay poised, stay composed. But the competition is so meaningful to him that occasionally he goes over the line."
The Warriors are on the brink of having their season come to an end on Wednesday, as they enter Game 5 against the Timberwolves in a 3-1 series deficit. The loss of star point guard Stephen Curry (hamstring) makes it even more important for Green to stay composed going forward as he tries to keep Golden State's season alive.
