Draymond Green admits he didn't realize chokehold on Rudy Gobert lasted so long

Warriors forward says he was surprised by the length of the infamous incident after reviewing the footage

Mar. 10, 2026 at 1:24am

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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green admitted that he did not realize how long his infamous chokehold on Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert lasted during a recent altercation between the two players. Green said he was shocked when he later reviewed the footage and saw how long he had Gobert in the chokehold, leading to a five-game suspension from the NBA.

Why it matters

Draymond Green is known for his physical and aggressive style of play, which has sometimes crossed the line and led to suspensions and fines. This incident with Gobert was one of the more high-profile examples, drawing significant attention and criticism at the time. Green's admission that he didn't realize the extent of his actions provides insight into how quickly emotions can escalate on the court and the need for players to maintain better control.

The details

During an appearance on the 'Unguarded' podcast hosted by Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, Green said he was surprised when he reviewed the footage of the incident and saw how long he had Gobert in the chokehold. Green said he went to the equipment room after the game and told the staff, "Damn man, what do you think is going to happen?" and they responded by telling him, "Dray, you held him for so long." The NBA ended up suspending Green for five games due to his prior history of on-court incidents, while the other players involved, including Gobert, Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels, only faced fines.

  • The incident occurred during a game between the Warriors and Jazz in March 2026.

The players

Draymond Green

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors who is known for his physical and aggressive style of play, which has sometimes led to suspensions and fines.

Rudy Gobert

The starting center for the Utah Jazz, who was involved in the altercation with Draymond Green.

Fred VanVleet

The host of the 'Unguarded' podcast, where Draymond Green made his admission about the incident.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to tell you this though, I did not realize I was choking him that long. I did not realize I had him that long.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors forward

“Once I saw how long it was I just went inside the equipment room, I was talking to the equipment guys and I said, 'Damn man, what do you think is going to happen?' And they were like, 'Dray, you held him for so long.' I'm like bro I didn't think it was that long.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors forward

What’s next

The NBA is likely to closely monitor Draymond Green's behavior going forward, given his history of on-court incidents. It remains to be seen if this admission will lead to any further discipline or changes in how he approaches the game.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for NBA players, even those as experienced as Draymond Green, to maintain better control of their emotions and actions on the court. The fact that Green was unaware of the duration of the chokehold suggests a lack of self-awareness that can lead to regrettable incidents with serious consequences.