Source: Sean Gardner / Getty
Draymond Green’s story began in Saginaw, Michigan, where he grew up immersed in a gritty, blue-collar environment. Raised by his mother, Mary, and stepfather, Raymond, he was always competitive and scrappy, traits that followed him to Michigan State University. At MSU, Green developed into a do-it-all forward. He earned Big Ten honors, was named consensus All-American, and even pulled off multiple triple-doubles in NCAA Tournament play, joining the likes of Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.
Coming out of college, there were doubts about Green’s NBA fit as his size (6’6″) didn’t scream traditional big man, leading to questions about what positions he could guard. He was drafted 35th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, a second-round pick who many now consider a steal.
Once in the NBA, Draymond Green became one of the foundational pieces for Golden State’s rise. He may not have been the go-to scorer, but his versatility, defensive intensity, and playmaking made him indispensable. Over his career, Green has collected four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022), was named Defensive Player of the Year, and earned multiple All-Star and All-Defensive honors. His impact wasn’t just in his stats, though. He helped define the Warriors’ “small-ball” era and anchored a switch-heavy defense that became their identity.
But Green’s legacy isn’t just built on his brilliance; it’s also marked by a string of wild and controversial moments. Off the court and on it, he’s had numerous high-profile mishaps (from punching teammate Jordan Poole to putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold during a game to stomping on Domantas Sabonis in a playoff matchup). These incidents have cost him suspensions, fines, and reputational wounds, yet they’ve also become part of the narrative around him.
Despite all that, Draymond Green’s basketball IQ and raw energy (whether channeled positively or negatively) remain critical to what makes him so special. He’s not just a physical force; he sees the game in ways few players do, anticipating plays, initiating defensive switches, riling up teammates and creating chaos that often benefits his squad. That fire is part of what drives his greatness, but also what sometimes gets him in trouble. Ultimately, it’s this intense blend of smarts and emotion that has made him a legend in Golden State, and why his wildest moments are also part of his lasting legacy.
Check out some of Draymond Green’s wildest NBA moments below!
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1. Suspension In NBA Finals (LeBron James Low Blow) – June 2016
Source:Hayrettin Sağlam- In Game 4 f the 2016 NBA Finals, Green and LeBron James tangled during a rebounding play. After falling, Green swung his arm and made contact with James in the groin.
- The league reviewed the play and assessed him with a Flagrant 1 foul; because he accumulated enough flagrant points in the postseason, he was suspended for Game 5 of the Finals.
- Green has later acknowledged that his suspension had a major impact on the Warriors’ ability to close out the series.
2. Elbow To Blake Griffin – December 25, 2013
Source:NBATV- During a Christmas Day game, Green threw an elbow that made contact with Blake Griffin’s head.
- He was assessed a Flagrant 2, ejected, and subsequently fined ($15,000) for not exiting the court quickly.
3. Various Ejections For Technicals & Verbal Altercations
Source:bballplays liveOver his career, Green has racked up many ejections for arguing with referees or picking multiple technical fouls. He’s been ejected 23 times (second all-time to Rasheed Wallace’s 29). Some examples:
- Feb 15, 2017 – Ejected after arguing with officials during a game vs. the Kings
- Dec 30, 2017 – Ejected after two technicals against the Grizzlies
- Feb 6, 2018 – Ejected for throwing the ball toward an official
4. Stomp On Sabonis – April 2023
Source:ESPN- In a 2023 playoff game versus the Sacramento Kings, Green stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis
- The NBA handed him a one-game suspension for that act.
5. Technical Foul Suspension – March 16, 2023
Source:ESPN- Green received his 16th technical foul of the season, which triggered a one-game suspension without pay.
6. Jordna Poole Punch – October 2022
Source:TMZSports- During a Warriors practice, Green got into a fight with then-teammate Jordan Poole and punched him in the face.
- He later apologized publicly, and the Warriors fined him, but he was not suspended by the NBA at that time.
7. Rudy Gobert Chokehold – November 14, 2023
Source:Chaz NBA- Green put Rudy Gobert in a chokehold during an on-court altercation.
- He was ejected from the game, and the NBA suspended him for 5 games.
8. Hit On Jusuf Nurkić – December 12, 2023
Source:Chaz NBA- In a game against the Phoenix Suns, Green struck Jusuf Nurkić in the face while battling for position
- The foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2, he was ejected, and soon after the league suspended him indefinitely.
- He was later reinstated (after completing league-mandated conditions), ultimately missing 16 games during that suspension period.
9. Ejection After Arguing With Referee – March 2024
Source:ESPN- In a game against the Orlando Magic, Green was ejected less than four minutes into the contest after loudly arguing with the referee Ray Acosta.
- On his podcast afterward, Green admitted he “deserved to be kicked out” and regretted how he handled his behavior.
