When Stephen Curry sits, Draymond Green often gets ejected

Field Level Media|published: Wed 15th November, 14:17 2023

April 30, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the 2023 NBA playoffs first round against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. credits: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Rudy Gobert may be on to something.

The Minnesota Timberwolves center was involved in a fracas Tuesday night with the Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green, who was ejected for putting Gobert in a headlock and may face disciplinary action from the league. He theorized Green doesn't want to play without his longtime teammate, Stephen Curry, on the floor.

"Every time Steph doesn't play, (Green) doesn't want to play without his guy Steph so he does anything he can to get ejected," Gobert said after the game, a 104-101 Minnesota road win.

Curry sat out Tuesday's game with knee soreness.

Since entering the NBA in 2012, Green has been tossed 18 times, according to Spotrac. In Green's first seven ejections, Curry was playing.

The first time Green was ejected came when Curry was sidelined against Gobert and the Utah Jazz, on Nov. 11, 2019, when Curry was nursing a broken hand.

Counting Tuesday's tossing, seven of Green's past 11 ejections happened with Curry inactive.

—Field Level Media