Draymond Green isn’t acting like himself in Game 3—and not in the usual “blowing a fuse” kind of way. As the Warriors are battling the Timberwolves, ABC broadcasters are pointing out his uncharacteristically calm demeanor on the court.

“Draymond seems to be in a much different place tonight. We haven’t really seen him go at the officials. Two technicals shy of a one-game suspension… so very well-behaved so far this game. He’s won a couple of charges.”

And honestly, he has no choice but to play it cool right now.

Draymond Green is currently sitting at five technical fouls in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. According to league rules, any player who racks up seven technicals during the postseason earns an automatic one-game suspension. After that, every two additional techs (nine, eleven, etc.) means another game off.

So yes—he’s skating on thin ice. One outburst, one heated argument with a ref, and suddenly the Warriors are without one of their most important defenders and playmakers. That’s not ideal when Stephen Curry is already battling injury issues and Golden State is clinging to postseason life.

The timing of Green’s Zen mode? Oddly, in sync with leaked details about a private conversation that reportedly took place between him and Timberwolves president Tim Connelly. Green is looking less like the chaos engine we’re used to—and more like a calculated veteran picking his battles.

A Private Talk and a Public Stand

Speaking to Andscape, Draymond Green revealed that Connelly had reached out after a disturbing incident during Game 2 in Minneapolis, where a fan allegedly directed a racial slur at him.
“I appreciated it,” Green said of the Wolves president’s gesture, adding that he was glad to see the team took the matter seriously and conducted an investigation.

According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape reports that security ejected one fan for violating the NBA Fan Code of Conduct, while witnesses identified another fan as making racial slurs before the fan left the arena, preventing security from intervening. The Timberwolves released a statement reaffirming their commitment to inclusivity, stating:
“Racist, hateful, or threatening behavior has no place at our games or in our community and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

Draymond Green didn’t hold back after Game 2. “I’m tired of the agenda to make me look like the angry Black man,” he said. “I’m a very successful, educated Black man with a great family, and I’m great at basketball and great at what I do. The agenda to keep making me look like an angry Black man is crazy. I’m sick of it.”

The fallout from that incident—and the empathy shown by the Wolves’ front office—may have triggered the shift in his on-court approach. It’s a fine line with two technical away from suspension, and clearly he’s choosing his steps carefully now.

Draymond Green’s Game 3 demeanor feels like more than just a tactical adjustment—it’s personal. The fire is still there, but it’s burning in a different direction. And as the Warriors fight to keep their season alive, this version of Draymond—disciplined, focused, and fully aware of the stakes—might just be the one they need most.

Because for once, the loudest statement he’s making… doesn’t require him to say a word.