In a development that is sure to add fuel to the fiery rivalry between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA has upgraded a questionable play by Draymond Green to a Flagrant 1 foul after further review. The incident occurred during the third quarter of Friday night’s heated matchup, when Green appeared to deliberately trip Grizzlies rookie sensation Zach Edey as he attempted to start a fast break.
Controversial Play Draws Ire of Grizzlies
The play in question unfolded with just over 7 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Green, known for his physical and often antagonistic style of play, lost control of the ball while driving to the basket. As he fell to the court, his left elbow became entangled with Edey’s right foot, causing the 7-foot-4 center to stumble and nearly lose his balance.
Edey, who has been a revelation for the Grizzlies in his rookie campaign, didn’t mince words when asked about the incident after the game. “It definitely wasn’t a basketball play,” the 21-year-old told reporters. “I was just trying to outlet the ball and start our break, and suddenly I’m tripping over Draymond’s leg. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it certainly didn’t feel like an accident.”
Jenkins: “Very Disappointing” Non-Call
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins was even more pointed in his criticism of the officiating crew’s handling of the play. Despite Green’s history of toeing the line between aggressive and dirty play, the refs deemed the trip a common “transition take foul” and didn’t even review the play.
“There was that one play, we were about to start the break and [Edey’s] been playing really hard to try to outlet, and Draymond grabs his leg and pulls him down and it doesn’t get reviewed. So I know there’s a code in this league, and I don’t understand how that wasn’t reviewed. Very disappointing.”
– Taylor Jenkins, Grizzlies head coach
The “code” Jenkins referred to is the NBA’s system for assessing fouls after the fact and applying additional penalties as warranted. In this case, upon reviewing the footage, league officials apparently determined that Green’s actions warranted an upgrade to a Flagrant 1 foul, which would have awarded the Grizzlies two free throws and possession had it been called in real-time.
Green’s Questionable History
Of course, this is far from the first time Green has been involved in a controversial on-court incident. The fiery forward has a long history of toeing the line between physical play and outright dirty tactics, and has been suspended multiple times for his antics.
Just last season, Green was suspended one game without pay for “conduct detrimental to the team” after a heated argument with Jordan Poole during practice. He’s also been involved in high-profile incidents with LeBron James, Steven Adams, and many other stars throughout his career.
While Green’s intensity and willingness to mix it up have made him a beloved figure among Warriors fans, his behavior rubs many opposing players and coaches the wrong way. Incidents like his trip of Edey only serve to further cement his reputation as one of the league’s premier agitators and villains.
Implications for Warriors-Grizzlies Rivalry
In the grand scheme of things, this single upgraded foul is unlikely to have a major impact on either team’s season. The Warriors hung on to win Friday’s game 123-118, and both squads remain near the top of the ultra-competitive Western Conference standings.
However, the incident does add another layer of intrigue and animosity to what has quickly become one of the Association’s most compelling rivalries. The Grizzlies and Warriors have met in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, with Memphis’ young core repeatedly going toe-to-toe with Golden State’s championship-proven veterans.
With Ja Morant continuing to ascend into the league’s upper echelon of superstars and Edey looking like a potentially dominant force for years to come, the Grizzlies appear poised to remain a thorn in the Warriors’ side for the foreseeable future. Every chance for these two teams to get under each other’s skin—like Green’s sly trip or the NBA acknowledging it after the fact—just turns up the heat another notch.
Ultimately, while no one wants to see a promising young player like Edey getting tripped or any athlete put at undue risk of injury, a little bit of bad blood between contenders often makes for captivating basketball. With the playoffs looming and Golden State chasing another title while Memphis pursues its first, NBA fans will eagerly await the next chapter in this budding rivalry. Whether Green and his antagonistic antics will continue to play a central role remains to be seen.
