By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 17:15 EST, 31 January 2026 | Updated: 17:16 EST, 31 January 2026
NBA bad boy Draymond Green has claimed a white referee's gesture towards him in a game on Friday night was disrespectful 'as a black man in America'.
The controversial Golden State Warriors player was given a technical foul by referee J.T. Orr during their game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
But what should have been a celebratory evening for Green, given it was his bobblehead night, has now turned into a controversial one for the 35-year-old.
Green admitted after the Warriors' 131-124 defeat that he was annoyed that Orr, who is white, put his hand in Green's face during the incident and suggested race may have been to blame.
He said: 'I will tell you, though. I find it very ironic that I got a technical foul for telling a Caucasian referee not to put his hand in my face. As a Black man in America, don't put your hand in my face.
'I said, "Hey, don't put your hand in my face." And I got a tech. So I thought that was the most interesting thing of the night, next to my bobblehead.'
Draymond Green said a white referee's gesture was disrespectful 'as a black man in America'
Green then explained how his interaction with Orr unfolded from his point of view and appeared to warn NBA officials that more controversy may be coming their way.
'He said, "Draymond, this is your chance to stop talking to me. (I responded) "Bro, don't put your hand in my face." Oh, tech. Oh! OK.
'Everybody wants to talk about holding a line of respect. That line needs to be held both ways.
'So if the line won’t be held both ways, then the line won’t be held from my way either, because we’re all men and we all can make decisions and choices. So let that be the last time that that happens.'
Green has had his fair share of disciplinary problems throughout his career and earlier this month he was ejected from an NBA game for the 24th time.
He is now second in the list of most ejections in NBA history, just five behind leader Rasheed Wallace.
Green also leads active NBA players for technical fouls and recently passed Anthony Mason for seventh place on the all-time standings earlier this month.