Draymond Green Hit with $50,000 Fine for Questioning Referees’ Integrity

Draymond Green Hit with $50,000 Fine for Questioning Referees’ Integrity
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for making an “inappropriate comment” that questioned the integrity of the referees, the league announced on Wednesday.

The incident occurred during the closing moments of the Warriors’ Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Western Conference Semifinal series last weekend. After fouling out of the tightly contested matchup, Green remained on the sideline to support his team. With Golden State trailing by six points in the final seconds, the four-time champion appeared to mouth the words “five-and-a-half” and “spread” while gesturing with his five fingers. The Warriors ultimately lost the game 102-97 by five points.

A broadcast clip of the incident quickly circulated on social media, leading to the league’s investigation and subsequent fine.

The financial penalty comes at a critical juncture for the Warriors, who are now on the brink of elimination after the Timberwolves secured a 3-1 series lead with a 117-110 victory in Game 4 on Monday. Throughout these playoffs, Green has averaged 9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.

The Warriors entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament. They advanced to the second round after overcoming a near collapse of their 3-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets.