Warriors’ Draymond Green calls out NBA refs as total phonies over new points of emphasis

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Golden State Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green expressed skepticism about NBA referees consistently enforcing the league’s new emphasis on offensive players using their off-arm to create separation, arguing that such calls typically disappear once the regular season begins.

As the Warriors prepare for the 2026-27 NBA season, Green addressed the league’s preseason officiating adjustments during the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, warning fellow defenders against expecting the changes to last.

“The NBA refs started to enforce the off-arm push-off rule in the preseason. Quite honestly, as a defensive player I would tell you all, don’t bank on this, don’t waste your time thinking like ‘oh man, like imma see them calling this now’ like I’m telling you, these types of rules here that’s going against the offense, they call them in the preseason and then when the season starts, that sh*t just fade away.”

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Green’s criticism centers on what he believes is a longstanding inconsistency in how officials enforce rules that could benefit defensive players.

The four-time NBA champion suggested that the league’s emphasis on limiting offensive push-offs will ultimately give way to its preference for allowing star scorers to operate without additional restrictions.

“Great offensive players are going to come down, bam – get out of here, shoot they shot, get they basket, everything [is] going to go the other way. These types of rules here in my 15 years, they don’t stand. Apparently there’s supposed to be a freedom of movement where you know how they just be grabbing Steph and hugging on him? That’s supposed to be a foul. Guess what? Freedom of movement been a thing and we’ve seen Steph Curry not get those fouls.”

Draymond Green points to Stephen Curry as example of inconsistent NBA officiating

Green specifically referenced the physical defensive coverage that Warriors superstar Stephen Curry frequently encounters, arguing that existing freedom-of-movement rules have not consistently protected his longtime teammate.

The NBA’s freedom-of-movement guidelines are intended to prevent defenders from illegally restricting offensive players through holding, grabbing and other forms of contact.

However, Green believes the inconsistent enforcement of those rules offers little reason to expect the league’s renewed attention to offensive push-offs to produce lasting changes.

Rather than relying on referees to penalize offensive players, Green explained that he plans to adjust his defensive positioning to counter the contact.

“So, guess what? I ain’t going to hold my breath on that one either. So, me as a defender, I got to learn to time up when that guy is about to deliver that blow so I can lean my chest forward a little bit so when he deliver the off-arm I don’t go to far back. I may go from this lean back to my natural position and I can still climb up a little bit and contest the shot. Ultimately, as a defender that’s my mindset because I’m not banking on them doing nothing against the offense. It ain’t just never been a thing.”

With Golden State preparing for another season built around Curry and its veteran core, Green’s comments highlight his frustration with officiating standards that he believes consistently favor offensive players.

Whether referees maintain their preseason emphasis on offensive push-offs remains to be seen once the regular season begins.

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