Draymond Green Explains Heated Exchange With Devin Booker Before Ejection
The Golden State Warriors' 2025-26 season ended in familiar chaos. Trailing the Phoenix Suns by double digits with 1:06 remaining, Draymond Green committed a hard foul on Devin Booker during an inbound play.
The stoppage escalated into a heated confrontation, ending with official Scott Foster ejecting both players. The Suns' convincing 111-96 victory officially knocked the Warriors out of the postseason and secured Phoenix a spot in the first round.
After the game, Booker played it cool. He compared Green's frustration to a kid losing at NBA Live, noting that he understands the raw emotion of a season ending.
Green, however, remained silent until his latest episode of "The Draymond Green Show," where he broke down the sequence. Most notably, he rejected the viral social media claim that he punched Booker in the chest. He argued the contact was just a tactical foul, not a non-basketball strike.
Green claimed Booker lied to Scott Foster by saying he'd been punched in the stomach. He argued it was an open-hand foul, not a punch, and noted that Foster reached the same conclusion after a review, ultimately calling it an "away-from-the-play" foul.
He even questioned that ruling, pointing out that Booker was in the middle of passing the ball. He suggested Foster knew it wasn't a flagrant or a technical foul but felt he had to call something to settle the situation.
He explained, "I was standing on the sideline and Book was shooting a free throw and I was saying, ‘Yo, Book, I punched you." And I just kept saying."
Draymond Green on him and Devin Booker getting ejected:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 20, 2026
"So, obviously Devin Booker and I got ejected. Devin Booker told Scott Foster that I punched him in the stomach, which is a lie. Number one, a punch is with a close fist. Number two, it's very obvious I was taking a foul.… https://t.co/QAzLHzSB4upic.twitter.com/0sikdXCX7E
Booker initially ignored it, but Green kept going. Eventually, Booker told him he'd moved on, but Green pushed again, and things got testy right away, words were exchanged in both directions, and Foster left with no option but to throw a double ejection.
Green made it clear the incident didn't change how he feels about Booker. He called him "my young fella" and noted their relationship goes back to Booker's high school days. To Green, the confrontation was just a competitive moment and nothing more.
The league hasn't announced any fines or suspensions yet, but officials are still reviewing the footage. Since the Warriors are out, any penalty for Green wouldn't start until next season.
Booker, however, was cleared to play in Game 1 on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Most experts expect only fines, as the ejections came from an argument rather than a physical fight.
Related: Raptors Announce Immanuel Quickley Injury News Before Game 1 Against Cavaliers
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 9:46 AM.