On nights like this, you find out who can handle the storm, and Draymond Green was right in the middle of it. One possession, he was schooling Victor Wembanyama, the next he was on the receiving end, throwing his body into Wemby’s path to help the Warriors and disrupt the Spurs’ flow. The Golden State Warriors held steady until the very end, but Wemby kept piling on points, showing why the Spurs star is far from just a hype machine. But things got downright cinematic in the fourth quarter, which had fans online questioning if the veteran’s time was coming to an end.

Wembanyama caught a baseline alley-oop and dunked over Green, complete with a foul, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It looked like a “big brother versus little brother” moment, with Green’s defensive prowess tested against the towering Frenchman. But post-play, the two locked eyes, muttered some words, and had to be separated before the mini-feud turned into a full-on brawl.

Unfortunately for Spurs fans, the refs eventually waved off the dunk, ruling the foul had occurred before Wemby controlled the ball, turning Green’s moment of panic into a silent victory. The game wasn’t all drama and poster attempts. Green still piled up solid numbers with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Despite the poster being nullified, Wembanyama had dominated parts of the paint, bullying Draymond on a couple of post-ups in the third quarter and looking every bit the 7-footer who could teach a lesson or two.

There’s a little backstory, too: Green has history with Rudy Gobert, another tall Frenchman, and Wemby’s own connection with Gobert might have added a pinch of playful revenge. By the final buzzer, the Warriors eked out a 109-108 win, thanks to Stephen Curry‘s whopping 49 points, allowing Green to breathe finally. But the fans weren’t done, rallying and calling for the veteran’s retirement.

Fans roast and marvel as Green battles Wembanyama

One frustrated fan didn’t hold back, tweeting, “@Money23Green ur so a–. Please just retire, you are holding up cap space on your team.” Green is slated for $25.9 million in 2025-26 with a $27.7 million player option the following year. ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes he could tack on another two years ($36.3 million and $39.2 million), but Golden State isn’t likely to go there. With rising salaries league-wide, an extension could seriously limit the Warriors’ flexibility.

Another fan chimed in, writing, “Wemby really sonned Draymond Green, and to make it worse, Draymond had to look up at him to argue with him.” The moment had fans laughing because the visual was priceless. Wembanyama, at 7 feet 4 inches, isn’t exactly pocket-sized at 6’6″, and Green had to tilt his head all the way back just to lock eyes with the towering Spurs kid. But don’t let the height joke fool you.

Green has been schooling everyone all season like the seasoned former DPOY he is. He held Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic to a measly 8-for-23 shooting and then went to work on Wembanyama, forcing eight turnovers. But ironically, both Jokic and Wemby had their worst games of the season against Golden State. 

Another fan couldn’t resist taking a jab, tweeting, “Look at how amazing the offense looks without Draymond Green on the court… that’s because they have to play honest DEFENSE. Green’s man can’t double or help off of him because he’s not a threat.” With Green patrolling the floor this season, the Warriors boast a 108.4 defensive rating, good enough for second in the NBA. When he is taken out of the game, that mark jumps to 119.8, which would rank 26th.

Another fan chimed in with a chuckle, tweeting, “Wemby eternally splurging over Draymond Green.” And honestly, it’s easy to see why.

Green, the 6-foot-6 defensive powerhouse, is logging heavy minutes at center in the Warriors’ revamped lineup alongside Curry, Will Richard, Moses Moody, and Jimmy Butler. The load is massive, but Green keeps grinding, bruised yet unbowed. On the flip side, Victor Wembanyama had his shining moment. During Wednesday’s game against Golden State, he managed to block one of Green’s three-point attempts, standing with one foot planted in the paint.

Another fan couldn’t resist poking fun at the mismatch, tweeting, “Draymond Green taking it to the paint with Wemby had me in tears 😭.” The Warriors veteran is still grinding, but even Green has publicly praised Wembanyama’s meteoric rise, noting that if he keeps up this level, the Spurs rookie could be in the running for MVP, DPOY, and Most Improved all at once.

Wemby’s stats this season back it up: 26.2 points per game, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 50.5 percent shooting from the field, making Green’s paint battles equal parts spectacle and stress test.