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Draymond Green received his 10th technical foul of the season and the 209th of his career, including the playoffs. But this one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.
The Golden State Warriors forward faced the Detroit Pistons on Friday night after an exchange with official JT Orr on his own bobblehead night.
Green was upset that Orr, who is White, put his hand in his face.
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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green reacts after the Warriors committed a turnover against the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at the Chase Center. (Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images)
“I’ll tell you though. I find it very ironic that I got a technical foul for telling a Caucasian referee not to put his hand in my face. As a black man in America, don’t put your hand in my face,” Green said.
“I said, ‘Hey, don’t put your hand in my face.’ And I have a technician. So I thought that was the most interesting thing of the night, next to my bobble head.”
Green then criticized the official, saying respect is a two-way street.
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot against the Detroit Pistons in the first half at the Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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“He said, ‘Draymond, this is your chance to stop talking to me. (I replied) ‘Brother, don’t put your hand in my face.’ Oh, technology. Oh! OK. Everyone wants to talk about holding a line of respect. That line must be held both ways. So if the line won’t be held both ways then the line won’t be held from my way either because we are all men and we can all make decisions and choices. So let this be the last time it happens,” he said.
Earlier this month, Green had his 24th sending off. He ranks second in career ejections among NBA players all-time, just five behind Rasheed Wallace, who holds the record with 29.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green yells at the referee during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Green also leads all active NBA players in technical fouls and passed Anthony Mason for seventh on the all-time list earlier this month. He needs two more to pass Dwight Howard and 60 more to pass Dennis Rodman and enter the top five.
