On Wednesday, Draymond Green was ejected for the fourth time this season. During the Golden State Warriors’ crucial game against the Orlando Magic, Green saw himself out of the court in just four minutes for arguing with the refs on a foul call. The polarizing behavior divided the NBA world into two camps, with some condemning Green for his antics and others holding the referee accountable. While former Warriors star Gilbert Arenas fell into the latter category, surprisingly, Green aligned with those criticizing his earlier outburst.

Speaking about the ejection on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, the Warriors defensive linchpin stated, “It just can’t happen. I said what I said, I deserved to be kicked out at that point. Kind of wish I would have turned my body and angled it and gone to the bench, but yeah it just can’t happen.” This is what he wished would have happened, but the reality was very different.

Early in the opening quarter, Paola Banchero created an and-one opportunity to tie the score at 6, with Andrew Wiggins drawing a foul at the rim. The call didn’t sit well with Green, who marched over to the official to dispute it, promptly earning a personal foul for doing so. And the tension only escalated from there.

Just a few plays later, when Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul, Green’s frustration boiled over as he yelled at official Ray Acosta, leading the referee to issue a technical foul. This should have been his cue to stop, but Green continued to jaw with the official as he made his way to the bench, at one point yelling a profanity, which landed him a second technical and automatic ejection.

Following the ejection, a disappointed Stephen Curry was seen shaking his head before kneeling down and attempting to hold back tears. And if this isn’t proof enough of how important Green is to the team, keep reading.

The Golden State Warriors need Draymond Green

The Golden State Warriors, despite a brief resurgence earlier this year, are still fighting tooth and nail for the last play-in spot. A part of the problem for the Warriors’ struggles this season has been Green’s combo suspension, responsible for their 19-28 spiral that they are still trying to escape. However, it’s no fluke that the Warriors’ resurgence in January and February aligned with Draymond Green’s return. His presence immediately revitalized the team, shoring up their defense and unlocking the Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins combination, once again proving why he is so necessary to have on the floor.

Stephen Curry echoed similar sentiments after Wednesday’s win, stating, “All I’ll say is, we need him. He knows that. We all know that. So whatever it takes to keep him on the floor and be available, that’s what’s got to happen. Especially this point in the year. So tough way to start the game.” 

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This season, Green is averaging 8.8 points, his highest since the 2017-18 season, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six dimes per game. Moreover, he is shooting 38.7% from 3-point range, his best mark since 2015-16. Notably, the Warriors’ defensive rating improves by nearly five points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court. But his repeated on-court theatrics have left the Warriors with an 11-14 record in his absence. With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Warriors require Green to be on his best behavior if they hope to weather the play-in storm.

Stephen Curry’s Angry Outburst Fuels Criticism of ‘Selfish’ Draymond Green, as ESPN Analysts Blast Warriors Star