Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was assessed a flagrant foul one during the second quarter of tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
The incident occurred while the Warriors were trailing after an 0-18 start, according to Yahoo Sports reporting.
Green pushed Victor Wembanyama in the back while tracking back on defense shortly after the Spurs star dunked over him.
The play drew immediate criticism from fans on social media who questioned the veteran’s defensive tactics.
One social media user noted, “Draymond Green TACKLED Wemby after Wemby dunked on him.”
This physical play follows recent comments regarding Green’s defensive philosophy.
The veteran previously defended his decision to shove Khaman Maluach, arguing that such physicality is necessary for a small-ball center, as reported by Fadeaway World.
NBA writer Dusty Garza suggested the league may need to intervene, stating, “The shove in the back under the basket that drew a Flagrant 1 was just the culmination of multiple cheap, overly physical plays aimed squarely at the face of the league.”
The Warriors appeared to have a strategy to test the Spurs big man early on.
Before the game, Yaxel Lendeborg discussed the team’s approach to the matchup.
Lendeborg said, “I’m gonna try to shoot as many 3s as I can tonight, try to bait him into helping out… Oh, and try to rough him up as much as we can.”
This incident is not the first time Green’s methods have been questioned in games against Wembanyama.
Leaked audio has previously captured intense exchanges between the two players, according to Fadeaway World.
As the Spurs maintain a significant lead in the game, the scrutiny surrounding Green’s conduct continues to grow among fans and observers.
It remains unclear if the league office will take further action regarding the incident.