During a recent game between the Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic, Draymond Green made headlines by being ejected just 8 minutes and 24 seconds into the first quarter. This marked Green's fourth ejection of the season, the most in his career, and placed him second in NBA history for regular-season ejections over the past 25 seasons, trailing only Rasheed Wallace.
Green's ejection was swift, but not unprecedented in the NBA. In recent years, there have been instances of players being ejected within minutes or even seconds of the opening tip-off. For example, in 2020, former All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas was ejected just 88 seconds into a game for pushing a referee, a move that resulted in a $25,000 fine from the league.
In another notable incident, Green was involved in a quick ejection in November 2023 after a scuffle with players from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The altercation led to a five-game suspension for Green and fines for the other players involved.
Similarly, Eric Bledsoe of the Milwaukee Bucks found himself ejected early in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers after a physical confrontation with Joel Embiid. Bledsoe's actions resulted in his removal from the game and added to the list of swift ejections in recent NBA history.
Lastly, Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz was ejected just over 9 minutes into a game against the Houston Rockets after a series of fouls and a frustrated reaction that led to his dismissal from the court. Gobert's ejection was a rare occurrence, as he became the only player in the past 15 seasons to be ejected in the first three minutes of a game.
These instances of quick ejections serve as reminders of the intensity and emotions that can arise in professional basketball games, sometimes leading to early exits for players. While such incidents are relatively rare, they highlight the importance of maintaining composure and sportsmanship on the court to avoid facing disciplinary actions from the league.
