What is the difference between a Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 foul in the NBA? Draymond Green just learned.

Game 1 of the Memphis Grizzlies' against Golden State shifted late in the second quarter on Sunday at FedExForum when Warriors forward Draymond Green was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected for contact on a Brandon Clarke shot attempt.

Green made glancing contact above the shoulders before helping Clarke to the ground by the jersey.

So what is the difference between a Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 foul? What do officials consider? Let's comb through the 2021-22 NBA rulebook.

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A Flagrant 1 foul, by the NBA rulebook

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.

A Flagrant 2 foul, by 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.

What does the NBA consider when reviewing possible flagrant fouls?

Per the "Comments on the Rules" section of the 2021-22 NBA rulebook:

"Q. FLAGRANT FOUL CRITERIA

• 1. The severity of the contact

• 2. Whether or not the player was making a legitimate basketball play (e.g., whether a player is making a legitimate effort to block a shot; note, however, that a foul committed during a block attempt can still be considered flagrant if other criteria are present, such as recklessness and hard contact to the head)

• 3. Whether, on a foul committed with a player’s arm or hand, the fouling player wound up and/or followed through after making contact

• 4. The potential for injury resulting from contact (e.g., a blow to the head and a foul committed while a player is in a vulnerable position)

• 5. The severity of any injury suffered by the offended player

• 6. The outcome of the contact (e.g., whether it led to an altercation)."

TL;DR. What's the difference?

A Flagrant 1 foul is a foul deemed unnecessary. A Flagrant 2 foul is a foul deemed unnecessary and excessive. NBA is most often looking for any potential wind up or follow through before and after contact, or whether or not the foul is a legitimate basketball play when determining unnecessary and/or excessive. But all six factors listed under the criteria could be applied.

Can a player get suspended for racking up Flagrant fouls?

Yes. Players rack up points for a flagrant foul. A Flagrant 1 foul is worth one point, while a Flagrant 2 foul is worth two points. Earning more than three points (e.g., four Flagrant 1 fouls, two Flagrant 2 fouls, a Flagrant 2 foul and two Flagrant 1 fouls) earns a player a one-game suspension.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The difference between a Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 foul in NBA