Draymond Green was in full entertainment mode today. He bounced around the court, mocking Santi Aldama after the latter missed two free throws. Commentators couldn’t stop laughing at the antics, and it was genuinely hilarious. But really, what made those missed free throws so special? The game was still ongoing, and the Warriors already had a comfortable lead over Memphis. So why the exaggerated bunny hops? It’s the same story as always: the signature “dirty” play of Draymond Green.

ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported on X, “It’s a 32-17 third quarter (so far) for the Warriors, sparked in part by the Draymond Green flagrant/technical combination that ignited the home crowd as he loudly celebrated Santi Aldama missing both flagrant free throws. Warriors up 97-78.”

The drama escalated when Santi Aldama went up for a basket and Draymond Green looped his arm around his shoulder from behind, drawing a flagrant 1 foul call. But the moment didn’t end there. Aldama was seen on the floor, clutching his neck and wincing in pain. Green looked down at him and shouted, “That’s soft as f—.”

Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. immediately stepped in, firing back at Green, only to be told to “shut up” in return. Even Memphis head coach Tuomas Iisalo got visibly heated, with staff stepping in to intervene and calm down the tense confrontation that had taken over the court. And the next thing we know, Memphis missed both free throws, and no one was happier than Green himself.

Draymond Green has already racked up 17 fouls this season, averaging 4.3 per game, according to StatMuse. His first technical came early against the Lakers, just six minutes into the game, and he wasn’t even on the court, picking it up from the bench. It was his 132nd career technical foul since entering the league.

Last season, Green ranked third in the NBA with 18 technical fouls and was among the top five in 2024-25. Players are suspended after 16.

Draymond Green has long been a polarizing figure in the NBA, and his style of play always draws attention. Skip Bayless even gave him a provocative title after Green suggested that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s lack of physicality doesn’t intimidate opponents: “Nobody’s afraid of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? That’s what Draymond says. I don’t know why not,” Bayless said. “Maybe because he doesn’t talk trash, he doesn’t cheap-shot anybody the way Draymond does — the all-time dirtiest player in the history of the league…”

While his fans might disagree, many of his victims, including LeBron James, Jusuf Nurkić, Rudy Gobert, and now Santi Aldama, would likely agree. 

While Green didn’t question this call, he was notably outspoken during the preseason. In a matchup against the Lakers without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Warriors still fell by 10 points, and the focus quickly turned to the free-throw disparity.

The Warriors managed only 8 free throw attempts, while the Lakers racked up an eye-popping 35, leaving Draymond Green visibly frustrated. In the third quarter, after Lakers forward Jake LaRavia drew a foul on a drive, Green finally lost his cool with the referees, yelling, “Free throws is 19 to 0 and LeBron James and Luka is on the bench. Incredible.”

Still, the Warriors beat Memphis, and that’s what ultimately matters for them.

Warriors ride balanced attack to dominate Grizzlies

The Golden State Warriors pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies for a 131-118 win Monday night, all credit to a balanced scoring effort and a significant third-quarter leap.

Jonathan Kuminga had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Brandin Podziemski added 23 points and six assists, and Moses Moody scored 20 off the bench, making key threes and free throws. Jimmy Butler added 20 points, while Stephen Curry contributed 16, showing the team’s depth and strong teamwork.

Memphis stayed competitive early, even holding a narrow lead at halftime, but its offense faltered after the break. Ja Morant scored 23 points with nine assists but struggled from long range, missing all six of his three-point attempts.

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Santi Aldama added 14 points, but Memphis couldn’t keep up with Golden State’s shooting and ball movement. The Warriors made 53% of their shots overall, including 19-of-43 from three, while Memphis hit just 12 triples.

Despite a minor hiccup with the Santi Aldama incident, Green contributed 10 assists before fouling out, proving his impact went beyond scoring. As Curry noted, “That’s how you get through the regular season,” praising the team’s balanced scoring. With this win, the Warriors improved to 3-1, showing they can thrive even when some key players are resting.