In a shocking turn of events during Tuesday’s NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Draymond Green found himself at the center of a controversy. Green was involved in an altercation with Rudy Gobert, which resulted in Green placing Gobert in a chokehold.
The incident occurred during the In-Season Tournament matchup when tensions were already high between the two teams. Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels were also involved in a heated exchange, leading to technical fouls and ejections. Green’s actions, however, crossed the line and he was ejected from the game for a level 2 flagrant foul.
As a consequence, Green has been slapped with a five-game suspension, resulting in a loss of $769,970 in salary. Additionally, Thompson, McDaniels, and Gobert have each been fined $25,000 for their involvement in the altercation.
Interestingly, this is not the first time a choking incident has taken place involving a Minnesota Timberwolves player. A fan pointed out on social media that in 2019, Ben Simmons put Karl-Anthony Towns in a chokehold without facing any suspension.
Following the game, Gobert publicly criticized Green, deeming his behavior as “clown behavior.” Gobert expressed his disappointment and called for the league to take appropriate action. The Timberwolves sealed a 104-101 victory over the Warriors in the tense game.
In response to Green’s suspension, the NBA mentioned his history of unsportsmanlike conduct as a factor in determining the length of the suspension. This marks Green’s fifth suspension throughout his NBA career, but the first time he has faced a multi-game suspension.