Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is tired of getting technical fouls called on him.
He received one for screaming during Thursday night's marquee matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when teammate Kevin Durant had a chase-back block on former teammate Russell Westbrook. The other happened in the season-opener against the San Antonio Spurs, as he had a rampaging dunk in traffic, also yelling at the top of his longs with emotion.
“I got two techs this year for yelling, ‘Ahhh'?” Green told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “At this point, do I need to wear a mask? Am I allowed to show emotion on the floor? That's who I am. I play with emotion.
“I love this game, so I'm going to show emotion. But if you yell, ‘Ahhh,' after a dunk… I've never seen anyone get a tech for that.”
While this might be true, Green is often too much to bear — not only is he constantly talking to his teammates on offense and defense, but always has a bone to pick with the referees with certain calls — and when he doesn't, he'll sarcastically clap to show his disapproval.
Forty-eight minutes of game-time is a long time, but when a referee has to spend 30-to-35 of them listening to Green's antics, it can get pretty overbearing for an official.
“At a certain point, you kind of get a reputation and you're judged off that reputation,” Green said. “I think I've gotten a reputation for arguing calls. That's what I got techs for [last season]. I understand that. Now I don't argue calls, so why am I getting techs for yelling?”
The NBA fines players $2,000 for each of the first five technical fouls they receive during the season. The fine scale increases by $1,000 for each five until the player gets his 16th technical foul, at which point he's docked $5,000 and suspended for one game.
If he continues at this pace, Green is in line for being suspended by the 40th game of the season. Yes, not even half a season yet completed by then.
The Michigan State alum said he made it a point not to argue calls with the referees any longer this season, but sees nothing wrong with being energetic during a basketball game. He expects GM Bob Myers to call the league about his situation.
“I look forward to getting an explanation on the first and the second one,” Green said. “You can't yell after a good play? So I'm looking for an explanation for both. I think they both should get rescinded. They said I was disrespecting the referees.”
“All right, I'm not talking to them no more. But now you want to give me a tech for yells? It's not like I'm standing in someone's face yelling.”
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