NBA
Draymond Green trails only Kevin Durant for most technical fouls
James is a Basketball Insiders contributor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.
All posts by James FoglioUpdated28 Nov 2022
On Sunday, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green picked up his seventh technical foul of the 2022-23 season in a 137-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the four-time All-Star trails only Kevin Durant for the most technical fouls this season.
With 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, Green was issued a technical from the bench after Jordan Poole drove to the basket and scored a layup. In the replay, Green was spotted dancing, hopping on one leg onto the lane line of the court.
Per multiple NBA betting sites, Draymond Green has the 11th-best odds to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Some sportsbooks show higher odds for Brook Lopez, Rudy Gobert, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“It’s crazy. I probably got four techs this year that are questionable,” the Warriors wing said after the win. “They told me I was at the lane line, but I thought I was standing in the corner. So, I don’t know. It sucks, though.”
Less than a minute later, after Donte DiVincenzo hit a three-pointer, Stephen Curry received a technical foul for running to the baseline and waving a towel in celebration. It appears Curry’s technical was intentional, in order to show his support for Green.
“It’s the NBA, man,” added Draymond Green. “Your teammates make a good move; I didn’t affect the play. There was no one near me. So, it sucks. And the fact that that’s going to count against my tech count? Come on, that’s ridiculous.”
Warriors star Draymond Green ranks second below Kevin Durant for most technical fouls in the 2022-23 season
According to technical foul rankings by player for the 2022-23 season, Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets leads the NBA with a total of eight.
However, Green is right below the two-time Finals MVP with seven. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic have five.
If a player receives 16 technical fouls, the league will issue a one-game suspension to the violator. While Durant has moments of losing his cool on the court, Draymond Green will likely lead the league in technicals by the end of this season.
The 3rd quarter of the Warriors-Suns game had 7 technical fouls, which is tied for the most ever in a quarter… 😳 pic.twitter.com/O9Mx64bkFe
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 26, 2022
During the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the Warriors forward received four technicals in 18 games. But that’s nothing. In the 2000-01 season, Rasheed Wallace received 41 technicals in 80 games. Many fans believe it’s one NBA record that will never be broken.
Of course, the 11-year veteran ended his performance against Minnesota with 19 points, four rebounds, 11 assists, and two blocks in 33 minutes. He finished 6-of-7 (85.7%) shooting from the floor and 1-of-2 (50%) from deep.
Through 19 starts this season, Draymond Green is averaging 8.8 points, 6.1 boards, and 7.2 assists per game. He’s also shooting 60.2% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range.
