Kevin Durant‘s return to the Golden State Warriors Thursday night came to an end with a familiar sight this season — an ejection.
After missing nearly two weeks with a rib injury, Durant returned to the starting lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks and played close to one half of basketball before calling it an early night.
Right at the end of the second quarter, Durant drove the lane, took some contact and fell to the floor. As the play continued, Durant approached the referee and yelled something that set the official off. He was then ejected from the game, his fifth time this season.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, Durant’s early exit put him in special company, trailing only Rasheed Wallace over the past 25 years for most ejections in a single season (seven in 1999-00, 2000-01).
Kevin Durant has now been ejected an NBA-high 5 times this season.
The only player with more over the last 25 seasons is Rasheed Wallace (7 in 1999-00 and 2000-01). pic.twitter.com/c3f0F5h7QG
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 30, 2018
After the game, Durant spoke on the ejections, saying it’s usually “bad calls” that he’s protesting.
Kevin Durant answering a bunch of questions on his ejection pic.twitter.com/kuVtTOtlqG
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 30, 2018
“I got fouled and I told him how I felt about it,” Durant said. “And he kicked me out.”
There’s a lot more in there, but he’s right in a way, Durant is usually ejected not for his play but for jawing with officials. He was ejected in October due to arguing with an official after Steph Curry was tossed for throwing his mouthpiece at a ref. Durant was ejected in December after a made basket and had another issue with referees in January.
His only ejection that didn’t involve yelling solely at officials was what looked like an escalating situation between Durant and DeMarcus Cousins back in early December.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about the ejections, and he’s admitted Durant has crossed the line at times.
Kerr on why Kevin Durant has had so many ejections this season: pic.twitter.com/6I8TnXKZrx
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 30, 2018
“He’s kind of snapped a few times,” Kerr said. “He’s an unbelievable competitor. Kevin wants to win. He wants to compete. So, like a lot of us, he snaps.”
Kerr said that hopefully his fifth ejection was “the last one,” and he’s smart to phrase it like that. If he wants Durant on the court, he definitely needs to stay in the official’s good graces.
