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- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Green was assessed a Flagrant Two foul in the second quarter after taking down Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke.
- ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith ripped the ref’s decision during halftime.
During the second quarter of Sunday afternoon’s Western Conference semifinal game between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies, famously prickly power forward Draymond Green was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Grizz forward Brandon Clarke.
After reviewing the play, the officials gave the 32-year-old Michigan State University product a Flagrant Two foul, which resulted in him being ejected from the game.
Draymond Green was ejected for this flagrant 2 foul. pic.twitter.com/QPYnODEXt1
— ESPN (@espn) May 1, 2022
Despite Green getting tossed, the Warriors were able to hold on without their defensive anchor and secure a thrilling 117-116 Game 1 victory over the up-and-coming Grizzlies.
Stephen A. Smith rips NBA officials for ejecting Draymond Green
During and after the game, though, the NBA world largely reacted with disgust when it came to Draymond Green’s ejection, particularly ESPN superstar Stephen A. Smith, who ripped the decision during the game’s halftime show.
“I think that’s an utterly ridiculous decision by the officiating crew. What are you doing? Looking for Cottonelle tissue commercials and endorsements? This is utterly ridiculous,” Smith said.
“It’s a damn shame that this happened. You want to give him a technical foul? Fine. He clearly tried to hold the person [Clarke] up. Okay, you’re making a defensive play — it happens. To have the guy ejected and to compromise the potential outcome, and to leave us in a position where we’re talking about this ejection, as opposed to talking about two high-end competitors going after it, I think this tarnishes the level of competition that was out there today. There’s no excuse for this decision as far as I’m concerned. It was just utterly egregious.”
Stephen A and Jalen Rose lost their minds at halftime over the Draymond Green Flagrant 2 ejection pic.twitter.com/hiyoWOOaE7
— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) May 1, 2022
With the win, the veteran Warriors took a 1-0 series lead over the upstart Grizzlies, who will look to even up the series when Game 2 tips off in Memphis on Tuesday night at 9:30 p.m.