In a highly contentious matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, veteran guard Chris Paul's return to Phoenix was marred by a controversial ejection. The catalyst behind Paul's early exit was none other than referee Scott Foster, a long-standing nemesis of the Suns star.

The incident occurred during the final minute of the second quarter when Paul was hit with a pair of technical fouls by Foster, leading to his ejection from the game. According to Kendra Andrews of ESPN.com, Paul later revealed that his clash with Foster was personal, with past incidents between them fueling the animosity.

"It's personal," Paul stated. "We had a situation some years ago and it's personal. The league knows. Everybody knows. There's been a meeting and all of that.... I'm OK with a ref saying whatever they're saying, but don't use a tech to get your point across."

Paul's teammates and head coach Steve Kerr agreed that the first technical was justified, as it stemmed from Paul's complaints about a foul call. However, they questioned Foster's decision to swiftly issue a second technical just seconds later. Foster, however, maintained that both technicals were warranted due to "unsportsmanlike conduct."

Kerr expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, "I didn't think Chris deserved to be ejected. The first tech, absolutely. But I thought the second one was unnecessary. Everybody gets frustrated out there."

Even Warriors star Stephen Curry weighed in, emphasizing the need for better communication between players and referees, particularly in situations where both parties are engaged in a conversation. "When both player and ref engage in conversation, that has to stay there," Curry said. "There are certain situations where players overstep. There are times when you know you have to back off. But when both are engaging, I don't like that."

This latest clash seems to add to the long-standing tension between Paul and Foster. According to Andrews, during Paul's time with the Clippers, his former teams endured a 13-game losing streak in which Foster was the crew chief. Additionally, Paul holds a disappointing 3-17 playoff record in games officiated by Foster. Remarkably, CP3's teams were favored in 15 of those 20 contests.

Details about the origin of the animosity between Paul and Foster remain somewhat murky. However, Paul mentioned an incident involving his son and Foster during his tenure with the Clippers. This incident led to a meeting that involved Paul, his father, Foster, and former Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.

Though Paul opted not to delve into further specifics about the incident, he acknowledged the need to avoid putting himself in a position to be targeted by Foster in future games.

"I've got to do a better job at staying there for my teammates, but it is what it is," Paul commented. "I'll probably see [Foster] in a Game 7 sometime soon."

As the league reviews the circumstances surrounding Paul's ejection and the ongoing tension with Foster, fans and analysts alike will undoubtedly keep a close eye on any potential future encounters between the two contentious figures.