Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
It took Draymond Green four home games to make Chase Center history, cracking into the record books as soon as the torn ligament in his finger, which caused him to sit for five games, allowed him to return.
He was right back in the starting lineup Monday, though he didn’t quite look himself. Until the fourth quarter, when a familiar-looking Green became the first player to be thrown out of the Warriors’ new home.
Green lasted 22 minutes in his first game since Nov. 1, scoring four points and adding seven rebounds and four assists and two back-to-back technicals, adding up to one boot, in the Warriors’ 122-108 loss at the Jazz’s hands.
Playing for a team that fell to 2-9 could take a toll on the star forward, who is not used to losing. But it didn’t appear that the score was what bothered Green when Utah’s Mike Conley Jr. barreled into him, a tossup call going down as a block and not a charge.
Green shouted at official Sean Wright, who teed him up once before the two separated. But Green kept jawing, and the second technical came moments later. Steve Kerr said he couldn’t hear the interaction between the two. Green was more direct.
“I disagree with that call. And I’m never going to be OK with another grown man telling me don’t talk,” said Green, who shot 2-of-7 and was a minus-14. “If you feel like you got the call wrong or right, don’t tell me not to talk. I’m a grown man, I got my own kids. So that’s what happened.”
Draymond Green is not happy after his ejection.
“I’m never going to be OK with another grown man telling me don’t talk.” pic.twitter.com/x29BzcsUE2
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 12, 2019
Moments later, Kerr picked up a technical when Jordan Poole appeared to come up cleanly with a steal, but a kicked-ball call was made.
For Green, it was a ceremonious end to an unceremonious return. This trying season will be difficult for him especially, the last (healthy) piece remaining from the dynastic Warriors.
“He was a little rusty that first run and then after that he looked much better,” Kerr said. “He’s easing his way back from injury, but he’s also easing his way into a team he’s never really seen before.”