Context:

In the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Golden State Warriors face the prospect of losing another key player, Draymond Green, following his technical foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Green, known for his intense play style, received a technical foul after an incident with Naz Reid, which was initially reviewed for a potential flagrant foul. His history of accumulating technical and flagrant fouls puts him on the brink of suspension, requiring only two more technicals or two more flagrants for an automatic game suspension. Head coach Steve Kerr intervened during the game to prevent Green from being ejected, underscoring the delicate balance of managing his aggressive play and leadership. The NBA's playoff rules dictate that a player is suspended after accumulating seven technical fouls, with Green currently having four technicals and two flagrant fouls in the postseason.

Dive Deeper:

• Draymond Green's intense playing style, while often a strength, has led him into frequent foul trouble, particularly with technical and flagrant fouls, jeopardizing his availability for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs.

• During a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Green received a technical foul following an altercation with Naz Reid, where Green retaliated after being fouled, leading to a review for a flagrant foul.

• Green's technical foul count in the playoffs now stands at four, alongside two flagrant fouls, placing him just two technicals or two flagrant points away from an automatic one-game suspension according to NBA rules.

• Steve Kerr, the Warriors' head coach, had to quickly substitute Green out of the game to avoid an escalation that could have resulted in an ejection, highlighting the challenges of managing Green's fiery temperament.

• The NBA's postseason disciplinary rules are stringent, with automatic suspensions enforced after seven technical fouls or four flagrant points, a threshold Green is dangerously close to reaching, necessitating careful management of his conduct on the court.

• As the Warriors take on the Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA playoffs, they know they are without one star for the foreseeable future, as Stephen Curry is dealing with a hamstring strain that could sideline him for the rest of the series. It's now getting closer to being down another. 

• Draymond Green's leadership and intensity can be strengths for Golden State, but sometimes his physicality gets the better of him. It almost looks like there are times that Green sees red and forgets that he is playing basketball and ends up harshly fouling an opponent or simply drawing the ire of a ref.

• As a result, Green is constantly in technical foul and flagrant foul trouble. He added to that on Thursday night in Game 2 against Minnesota. 

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• Here's what happened. 

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• Draymond Green technical foul in Game 2, explained

  The Timberwolves started the game absolutely dominating the Warriors. Minnesota was stepping on the gas, and it looked like Golden State hadn't even found their car in the parking lot yet. Playing from behind, especially in the playoffs can make tensions rise as the sense of urgency surges. 

• In the second quarter, Green had the ball on the perimeter and was looking to facilitate. He was being guarded closely by Naz Reid. In Green's defense, he was fouled by Reid, as the Timberwolves' big man reached around Green's back trying to go for the ball. Immediately after being fouled, however, Green flailed roughly into Reid while passing the ball.

• pic.twitter.com/mJ9yackqyn

• — . (@dphoop2425) May 9, 2025 It looked extremely awkward and very intentional. The play was reviewed and Reid's reach-in foul stood. Green was then given a dead-ball technical foul that confused viewers who thought it should be a flagrant. Green entered the game toeing the line for suspensions from both flagrants and technically, needing two more flagrants or three more technicals to be suspended. 

• After the ruling, Green went off on the referees. He gets in the ref's face and, after not letting up, could have gotten a second technical, which would've gotten him ejected from Game 2.

• Instead, head coach Steve Kerr quickly subbed him out and forced him to the bench. Green walked the entire bench still yelling and jawing while not really appreciating that the refs might have bailed him out with the foul being ruled just a technical and not a flagrant to begin with. 

• Steve Kerr had to sub out Draymond Green so he didn’t get ejected…pic.twitter.com/gP1QgCmoN4

• — Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 9, 2025 Here is what Kerr had to say about Green and his technical after the game. 

• "It's part of Draymond."
  
  — Steve Kerr on if he was disappointed after Draymond Green picked up his fifth technical foul of the postseason. pic.twitter.com/XLQqkWpktf

• — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 9, 2025

  Draymond Green technical and flagrant fouls in the playoffs

  Green has been whistled for four technical fouls and two flagrant fouls through seven playoff games in 2025. Based on the NBA's rules, Green would be suspended if he picks up two more flagrant points or three more technical fouls.

• Green was given a technical foul in Game 2 vs. the Timberwolves. He now needs two more technicals or two more flagrants to be suspended one game. 

• With flagrant fouls, a point system is used to determine further punishment. A Flagrant 1 equals one flagrant point and a Flagrant 2 equals two flagrant points. Green has committed two Flagrant 1 fouls during the 2025 playoffs and is two points away from triggering an automatic suspension with four points.

• Green would pick up two additional points with one Flagrant 2 or two Flagrant 1 fouls.

• In the first round against Houston, Green picked up four technical fouls. Per NBA rules, a player is automatically suspended with seven technical fouls in the playoffs, meaning Green is three away from an automatic suspension.

• NBA playoffs technical foul suspensions, explained

  Much like in the regular season, the NBA assesses automatic suspensions for excessive technical fouls. 

• A player's technical count resets for the postseason, but they are suspended once they receive their seventh technical foul in the playoffs. The count carries over from round to round. Here is the escalating scale of punishment associated with playoff technicals.

• • Technical fouls 1-2: $2,000 fine each
  • Technical fouls 3-4: $3,000 fine each
  • Technical fouls 5-6: $4,000 fine each
  • Technical foul 7: $5,000 fine + one-game suspension
  • Each additional technical foul: $5,000 fine
  • Each two additional technical fouls (9,11, etc.): $5,000 fine + one-game suspension

  NBA playoffs flagrant foul suspensions, explained

  The NBA uses a point system to ensure players do not commit excessive flagrant fouls in the regular season and postseason. This establishes accountability during the game and allows points to follow players on a game-to-game and round-to-round basis.

• Points do not reset each round, and accumulating four flagrant points triggers an automatic suspension. Here is how flagrant fouls are handled:

• • Flagrant 1: One point
  • Flagrant 2: Two points, automatic ejection, minimum $2,000 fine
  Any combination of four flagrant penalty points.