Klay Thompson-Jaden McDaniels fight: Draymond Green also ejected for Rudy Gobert attack in Warriors-Timberwolves

It didn’t take long for things to escalate in the In-Season Tournament game between the Warriors and Timberwolves.

Less than two minutes into the game, Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels became entangled after a missed jump shot from Anthony Edwards. From there, things got out of hand. Fast.

As the two jostled with one another, McDaniels got a hold of Thompson’s jersey, ripping it as each of their teammates made their way to the scene. As Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert got a hold of Thompson, Warriors forward Draymond Green rushed to his teammate’s aid, putting Gobert in a headlock, which forced Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns to pry him off.

And, yes, the fracas is just as chaotic as described.

Absolute chaos between the Wolves and Warriors started by Klay and Jaden pic.twitter.com/QHjpuijvuc

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 15, 2023

After a lengthy review, officials handed out punishments to three players involved: McDaniels and Thompson were each assessed technical fouls and immediately ejected for fighting.

Green, who could have been a peacemaker, was assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 for his act on Gobert, which equates to an automatic ejection.

Draymond Green had Rudy Gobert in a sleeper hold pic.twitter.com/yivvAds10c

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 15, 2023

It’s the second ejection for Green in the last four days. Saturday, he was tossed from the Warriors’ loss to the Cavaliers after he was assessed a Flagrant 2 for a push of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.

Tuesday’s ejections couldn’t have come at a worse time for Golden State, which entered the game without Stephen Curry. Less than two minutes into a key In-Season Tournament Game, the Warriors are down three of their starters.

With this being a repeat infraction for Green, check back for updates on whether or not he will be suspended for his actions against Minnesota.

Draymond Green-Rudy Gobert history

Green’s attack on Gobert resulted in a Flagrant 2 and an ejection and will almost certainly be subject to a league review. And while Green’s act might have been in the heat of the moment, the two have a checkered past with one another.

Ahead of the 2022 All-Star Game, Green took a shot at Gobert, seemingly making fun of the center’s emotional response to an All-Star snub in 2019.

“One thing I can assure you, if I didn’t make it this year I wasn’t gonna cry,” Green said to TNT’s studio crew. “I 100 percent assure you that. It has to be Rudy, the man cried on national television when he didn’t make the All-Star team, thank God he made the next three.”

Eight months later, Gobert took a shot back at Green, taking to X to post “Insecurity is always loud” on Oct. 7, 2022, a response to the leaked video of Green punching Jordan Poole.

Green would respond six months later, posting the exact same message after Gobert was sent home for punching teammate Kyle Anderson in a huddle during the last day of the NBA regular season.