WATCH: Warriors Star Draymond Green Puts Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert in a Headlock in Heated Scuffle

Ahmad Austin Jr.Nov 15th, 2023, 11:01 am
 

A scuffle between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves descended into chaos when Draymond Green decided to take things up a notch and put Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

Just over a minute and a half into their Tuesday night play-in tournament game, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels and Warriors guard Klay Thompson got tangled up and began tugging at one another. Suddenly, McDaniels pulled Thompson’s jersey with so much force that it actually ripped. Their teammates quickly swarmed them to break up the scuffle.

As Gobert attempted to pull Thompson away from his teammate, Green got behind the 7-foot-1 center and put him in a headlock. Seconds later, with Green maintaining the hold, Gobert threw his arms up in clear confusion.

After an extensive review by the officiating crew, Thompson and McDaniels were ejected for their roles in the incident. Green was given a flagrant foul penalty 2 for his headlock on Gobert, meaning he was also ejected.

Neither team had even scored a point yet.

After the game — which the Timberwolves won 104-101 — Warriors coach Steve Kerr argued that Thompson shouldn’t have been ejected because he was merely responded to what McDaniels started. Other angles of the altercation, however, show Thompson clearly grabbing McDaniels by the jersey first.

Kerr was also upset by Green’s ejection because he argued that Gobert grabbed Thompson by the neck first. Replays of that moment do show Gobert’s arms near Thompson’s neck, but he was likely just trying to break up the fight and his arms were up higher because he’s so much taller than the guard.

On the internet, it’s become a running joke that Green never wants to play when superstar Steph Curry is out. Curry didn’t play Tuesday, and Green’s immediate ejection played right into that joke.

According to Gobert, it’s not just the internet that feels that way.

“It’s kind of funny because before the game, I was telling myself that Steph is not playing, so I know Draymond is going to try and get ejected,” Gobert said after the game. “Because every time Steph doesn’t play, he doesn’t want to play — it’s his guy Steph. He’ll do anything he can to get ejected… Clown behavior, and I’m proud of myself for being the bigger man again and again.”

The incident was especially intriguing because of Green’s and Gobert’s histories. Green is known for his fiery play and once knocked out a teammate, while Gobert has the unfortunate reputation as someone who gets pushed around. When Gobert finally stood up for himself last season when he swung at a teammate on the bench, Green actually praised him.

Watch above via NBC Sports

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