Steve Kerr didn't hold back criticizing Draymond Green's ejection and the previous controversial stomach hit of Dillon Brooks against Stephen Curry.
Steve Kerr didn't mince words as he addressed Draymond Green's ejection in the Golden State Warriors' 119-116 win against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
Draymond Green
Draymond Green
Draymond Green
MIN: 27.43
PTS: 8.04 (42.78%)
REB: 6.09
As: 5.22
ST: 0.91
BL: 0.91
TO: 3.22
GM: 23
"I thought it was weak. I mean, [Green] was yelling at the refs, so he definitely deserved one. But then, as he was walking to the bench, he yelled something and got the second technical," Kerr stated in his postgame presser.
"We just saw a guy on their team literally punch Steph in the stomach. Premeditated, punches him in the stomach, no ejection for that. And then two nights later, refs got upset with some words from Draymond. I just totally disagree."
Green was ejected at the start of the second quarter after a hard shove against Suns guard Collin Gillespie and an eventual heated exchange with the referees.
That served as the first ejection of the season for Green, which prompted Steve Kerr to immediately draw a separate technical foul for arguing against the officials.
Kerr's rant can be traced to Dillon Brooks' controversial contest against Stephen Curry in last Thursday's matchup between the two teams. The Phoenix forward hit Curry in the stomach area with 38 seconds remaining in regulation, which was assessed as a Flagrant 1 foul after the review.
As he was asked if he was upset about that foul by Brooks on Curry, the Warriors head coach didn't hold back in his response.
"I mean, how can you not be upset? This is a guy who broke Gary’s elbow in the playoffs, clotheslining him with one of the dirtiest plays I’ve ever seen," Kerr said, "So it’s not like there’s no track record. It’s right there. They look at it. I don’t know the point of replay if you’re not going to kick a guy out for literally punching somebody. It’s bizarre to me that he was not ejected from that game, and then suspended or fined. Nothing.
"Apparently, you are now allowed to premeditate a punch of any shooter who's 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, but probably not."
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