Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie has publicly addressed the on-court confrontation with Golden State Warriors' forward Draymond Green that resulted in Green's ejection during their high-stakes NBA clash. The incident, which occurred on December 21, 2025, during the second quarter of the Warriors vs. Suns game, saw tensions boil over into a verbal and physical exchange.
What Happened During the Game?
The altercation ignited when Draymond Green appeared to push Collin Gillespie while tracking back on defense. This initial contact sparked a heated argument between the two athletes. Officials assessed Green with a technical foul for the push and the ensuing verbal sparring. However, when Green continued to argue with the Suns guard, he was hit with a second technical foul, leading to his automatic ejection from the game.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr protested the ejection decision vehemently, which resulted in him also receiving a technical foul. The game, already intense, reached a fever pitch with these consecutive calls.
Gillespie's Side of the Story
Speaking to the media on December 23, as the Suns prepared to face the Los Angeles Lakers, Gillespie shared his perspective. The 26-year-old guard expressed confusion over what triggered Green's extreme reaction, firmly stating he did nothing to provoke the veteran forward.
"I ain't even get under his skin," Gillespie told reporters. "He said something to me and I said something back to him... I'm 26 years old, I'm a grown man. I'm not going to just let somebody call me a name and then not say anything back."
Gillespie clarified that his response was simply a retort to Green's own words. "I just said what he said back to me and that was it and then he freaked out so I don't really know," he explained. He believed Green's ejection was more related to the player's anger towards the referees than their personal clash.
The Provocative Language Used
The core of the argument stemmed from the language Draymond Green directed at Gillespie. During the confrontation, Green was heard shouting, "WHITE BOY! B***! DON'T PULL THAT S***, WHITE BOY!"
When questioned by the media about the exact nature of Green's words, Gillespie was hesitant to repeat them verbatim. "I can't say. You could probably put it together, but I can't say it in the media," he stated. His response on the court was measured: "I just said, 'Don't talk to me like that.' That's all I said. It wasn't crazy, and I used the terminology he used."
Gillespie downplayed the physical aspect, attributing the event to the nature of competitive sports. "I didn't really have a problem with how he hit me, or when he ran into me, or what he said to me. But that's just basketball at the end of the day," he concluded, marking a clear end to his comments on the fiery incident.
