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Why James Harden, Draymond Green were ejected for flagrant fouls but Joel Embiid wasn't

Benyam Kidane

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Why James Harden, Draymond Green were ejected for flagrant fouls but Joel Embiid wasn't image

The playoff intensity has already kicked in just a few games into the first round.

Draymond Green was ejected in Game 2 of the Golden State Warriors' series against the Kings, following his stomp on Domantas Sabonis, resulting in a one-game suspension. 

On Wednesday night, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid got tangled up with Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton in a similar incident which saw Embiid trip Claxton, before kicking out at him.

Many believed Embiid would be assessed a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in an ejection, but he remained in the game after being assessed a Flagrant 1. 

However, later in the contest, James Harden was tossed from the game after elbowing Royce O'Neale in the groin area.  

Why were Green and Harden ejected and Embiid not?

Here's a breakdown of how Flagrant fouls work. 

What is a Flagrant 1 foul?

Per the NBA rulebook, a Flagrant 1 foul is an "unnecessary" foul. What is "unnecessary" is open to interpretation, but here is the official wording:

Rule 12B, Section IV-a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul—penalty (1) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.

All Flagrant fouls are reviewed. A player who commits two Flagrant 1 fouls in a game is ejected. The fouled team gets two free throws and retains possession of the ball.

What is a Flagrant 2 foul?

A Flagrant 2 foul is deemed to be an "unnecessary" foul that is also "excessive." 

Here's the official wording of what is a Flagrant 2 foul from the NBA rulebook:

Rule 12B, Section IV-b. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive, a flagrant foul—penalty (2) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.

All Flagrant fouls are reviewed. In this case, the player who commits the foul is ejected. The fouled team gets two free throws and retains possession of the ball.

Joel Embiid Flagrant 1 foul

Less than three minutes into the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets, Embiid and Claxton got tangled up after Claxton threw down an alley-oop. 

MORE: Should Joel Embiid have been ejected for kick on Nic Claxton?

As Claxton attempted to step over Embiid, the 76ers star kicked out at Claxton's groin area.

Following a lengthy review, Embiid was assessed a Flagrant 1 and Claxton received a technical foul.

James Harden Flagrant 2 foul, ejection

Later in the game towards the end of the third quarter, James Harden was given his marching orders after he was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul.

MORE: Should Harden have been ejected for low blow in Game 3?

Harden extended his elbow as he attempted to drive by O'Neale, catching him in the groin area, which the officials deemed to be "unnecessary and excessive" contact. 

Draymond Green Flagrant 2 foul, suspension 

With 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and Golden State trailing Sacramento by four points, Green stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis after the Kings All-Star held Green's foot from the floor.

After the officials reviewed the play, Green was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 and ejected from the game. On his way off the floor, he barked back at the Kings fans, taunting them as he jumped onto the bench, earning him a one-game suspension.

MORE: Charles Barkley offers theory why Draymond Green was suspended

Per the statement released by the NBA:

"The suspension was based in part on Green's history of unsportsmanlike acts. Green's acts."

Social media reactions to Joel Embiid, James Harden, Draymond Green flagrant fouls

The consensus among NBA players was that Green's suspension was heavy-handed.

TNT's Charles Barkley chimed in on Embiid's foul, saying that he believed it was even worse than Green's.

Meanwhile, many were in disbelief that Harden was ejected for a seemingly innocuous foul.

Not even Embiid could believe it

The inconsistency of the calls had the timeline buzzing, with players and fans alike confused by the rulings handed down for Green, Harden, and Embiid. 

Benyam Kidane

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Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.