Steve Kerr Voices Outrage Over Draymond Green’s Ejection and Critiques Dillon Brooks’ Flagant Foul
In the aftermath of the Warriors’ thrilling 119-116 victory over the Suns, head coach Steve Kerr took center stage during Saturday’s media session to express his discontent regarding Draymond Green’s recent ejection. His ire didn’t stop there; he also launched into a pointed critique of Dillon Brooks’ flagrant foul from a prior game, highlighting the inconsistencies in officiating that left him visibly frustrated.
The Incident with Draymond Green
Green’s ejection unfolded in the second quarter during a heated moment when he shoved Collin Gillespie. The incident came after Gillespie had his shot blocked by Green and they became entangled as they raced down the court. At the same time, Stephen Curry was making a three-pointer while also being fouled, resulting in a potential four-point play. In the heat of the moment, Green made a “T” gesture towards the referees, presumably requesting a technical foul against Gillespie. Instead, he received a technical foul himself for his outburst. A second technical followed shortly thereafter when Green continued to voice his displeasure.
Kerr defended his player, stating, “I thought it was weak. He was yelling at the refs, so he definitely deserved one. But then he’s walking to the bench and yells something, which got him the second technical. I mean, we just saw a guy on their team literally punch Steph in his stomach the other night, premeditated, and no ejection for that. And then two nights later, the refs get upset with some words from Draymond. I totally disagree. And that’s why I got my tech. Because I was furious they booted him out just like that so easily.”
Dillon Brooks and the Flagrant Foul Controversy
Kerr’s frustration extended beyond Green’s ejection. He turned his attention to Brooks’ flagrant foul during Thursday’s game, which occurred when Curry attempted a three-pointer with less than a minute left on the clock. As Brooks contested the shot, he swung his arm into Curry’s chest, prompting a review that resulted in a flagrant-1 call, allowing Brooks to remain in the game.
“How can you not be upset?” Kerr remarked. “This is a guy who broke Gary’s elbow in the playoffs, clotheslining him on one of the dirtiest plays I’ve ever seen. So it’s not like there’s not a track record there. I don’t know what the point of replay is if you’re not going to kick a guy out for literally punching somebody. It’s bizarre to me that he was not, first of all, ejected from that game and then suspended or fined. Nothing. Nothing.”
Kerr continued to delve into the implications of the referees’ decisions, suggesting that a troubling precedent was being set. “Apparently, you are now allowed—this is my take—you are now allowed to premeditate a punch at any shooter who is left defenseless. You can now take a swing at him and know you’re just going to get a flagrant-1. So, I don’t know, maybe we’ll do that,” he said, clearly exasperated.
Recalling Past Incidents
In making his point, Kerr drew on Brooks’ previous flagrant foul against Gary Payton II during the 2022 playoffs. In that instance, Brooks swung wildly at Payton, who was already airborne, resulting in a serious elbow injury for Payton and a suspension for Brooks. “He hit Payton in the head. Payton was already airborne and landed on his elbow. Brooks was suspended for the next game. Payton missed the next 10 playoff games with an elbow injury,” Kerr recounted, emphasizing the severity of Brooks’ actions.
Brooks’ Response to the Fallout
Following Thursday’s game, Brooks was asked about the flagrant foul and initially spoke of needing to do some “soul-searching,” which could imply remorse. However, his subsequent comments raised eyebrows. “I thought he was running to try to get the rebound, so I tried to stop him,” Brooks stated, a claim that seemed far-fetched given Curry’s positioning at the time. He added, “But I’ve been lifting too much. Doing what the other guys are doing and lift on game day, bro. It’s just, I don’t know how to explain it. Just gotta figure it out for next game so I don’t do anything to put our team in a bad spot.”
Curry himself labeled the play as “bush league,” further underscoring the discord surrounding Brooks’ actions and the subsequent officiating decisions. The unfolding narrative surrounding these incidents raises significant questions about consistency and accountability in officiating, leaving fans and players alike to ponder the future implications on the court.
