The NBA has ruled Draymond Green’s clash with LeBron James at the end of Game 4 was worthy of a Flagrant 1 foul, pushing Green over the postseason limit and earning him an automatic suspension for Game 5.
“The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game,” NBA Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said in statement. “While Draymond Green’s actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a standalone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for Game 5.”
Under league rules, any player who accumulates four flagrant fouls over the course of the playoffs will be automatically suspended for one game, and every additional flagrant foul will result in either a one-game suspension (for a Flagrant 1) or a two-game suspension (for a Flagrant 2).
Here’s what both Green and James said after the game about the incident.
“You’re not just going to step over me. There’s many routes you can take. Don’t just step over me like that,” Green told NBA TV after the 108-87 win. “We had our words and it is what it is. I don’t care who you are: I’m not going to back down from you. It is what it is, we can do whatever needs to be done.”
And James on if there should be a suspension.
“It’s not my call. That’s the league office,” James said. “They’ll take a look at it. We all saw it in the locker room. You know, like I said, as a competitor, I love going against Draymond, and I’m all about going out there and leaving it out on the floor. But when it gets a little bit more than what it should be, that’s what caused me to have words with him.”
We’ll hear more from the Warriors later on Sunday.