Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green has never been shy about calling out what he sees as injustices in the NBA, and this time, his message is directed at the league’s referees.
Following a disappointing 106-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Green took to The Draymond Green Show to express frustration over the officiating – specifically how it impacts superstar teammate Stephen Curry.
According to Green, Curry is routinely fouled but rarely gets the benefit of the whistle because he doesn’t exaggerate contact.
“He gets penalized because he’s not a flopper. So he don’t flop to sell calls,” Green said. “And so it’s almost as if, ‘Oh, he’s not getting fouled’ or it don’t matter because he ain’t showing that he’s getting fouled.”
“We reward flopping and flailing in this league, and Steph does neither. I actually think it ultimately doesn’t really hurt him because he still do what he do, but it hurts him as far as getting the call.”
Struggles against Houston reignite debate
Curry endured one of the roughest shooting nights of his season against the Rockets, finishing with just 3 points on 1-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.
While he added eight assists and two rebounds, the lack of calls in his favor added to the Warriors’ frustrations as they continue to fight for a playoff berth.
Green‘s frustration wasn’t the only one voiced. Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler also weighed in on the matter, strongly defending the two-time MVP.
“I’ve never seen an individual get fouled more than he gets fouled. To me, I think that’s astounding. It’s been happening to him his whole career,” Butler stated.
Curry, 36, is known not only for his elite shooting but also for his stoic demeanor and refusal to embellish contact – a style that may now be working against him in a league that often favors more theatrical players when it comes to foul calls.
The Warriors, clinging to a spot in the Western Conference play-in race, need Curry to be at his best during the final stretch. Whether that includes fairer treatment from referees remains to be seen.
But as Green and Butler point out, Curry‘s quiet toughness shouldn’t be mistaken for invincibility – and the league may need to take notice.
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