The NBA has raised a foul committed by Draymond Green on Zach Edey to Flagrant 1 after reviewing the play.
The foul in question occurred midway through the third quarter of Friday victory 123-118 of the Golden State Warriors over the Memphis Grizzlies. As Green headed toward the basket, he lost the ball and fell into the lane near Edey’s feet. Edey picked up the ball and passed down. But when the rookie tried to run, Green grabbed Edey’s right foot with his left elbow, causing him to fall to the ground.
During the game, the play was ruled a transition commit a foulmeaning Green intentionally fouled Edey to prevent him from taking advantage of a fast break opportunity. But that was changed to Flagrant 1 after the league reviewed the play Saturday.
“It definitely wasn’t a basketball play,” Edey said, via ESPN. The rookie finished the game with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Draymond Green (GSW)’s foul against Zach Edey (MEM) at 7:06 of the third quarter on 11/15/24 was upgraded to Flagrant 1 after league review. https://t.co/bX7YS8MaV4
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) November 16, 2024
The foul was not reviewed during the game, which Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins criticized afterward.
“Very disappointing, there was that play, we were about to start halftime and he’s been playing really hard to try to get out, and Draymond grabs his leg and pulls him down and they don’t check it,” Jenkins said. via ESPN.
“So I know there’s a code in this league,” he added, “and I don’t understand why it wasn’t reviewed. Very disappointing.”
The lack of transition awarded Memphis a free throw. If Flagrant 1 had been called during the game, the Grizzlies would have received an additional foul shot. The team already had possession on the play.
Green was eventually ejected from the game after receiving his second technical foul with 30 seconds left in regulation. He finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The flagrant foul was Green’s first of the season. But that wouldn’t be notable if the Warriors forward didn’t have a history of problematic fouls. Last season, Green was suspended indefinitely for turning and punching Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face. The NBA cited Green’s “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” in imposing the sanction.
An NBA player receives one penalty point for a Flagrant 1 foul, two for a Flagrant 2 infraction. After five penalty points, he receives a one-game suspension.