Just a few weeks ago, the Memphis Grizzlies looked like a lock for a top-six finish in the West. Then, boom—coaching shakeup. Firing Taylor Jenkins threw off their rhythm big time, and by the end of the regular season, they’d tumbled down to the 8th seed. That meant a Play-In clash with none other than the Golden State Warriors. Yeah, Steph Curry and Draymond Green under the bright lights—never a chill time.

Now, the Grizz have their stars—Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. do most of the heavy lifting—but this squad runs deeper.

One name that’s gotten buzz lately? Rookie center Zach Edey. He didn’t have the hottest first half, though. Charles Barkley wasn’t impressed, and you know Chuck never bites his tongue. “[Zach Edey’s] only got 5 points…If you’re gonna get abused on defense, you better make up for it on the offensive end,” he said during halftime on TNT. Ouch!

But here’s where it got wild. Midway through the second half, Draymond Green picked up his fifth foul in a rebound tussle with Edey. The Warriors weren’t having it—they challenged the call, claiming Edey was leaning into him. Everyone held their breath.

The result? Challenge denied. Draymond kept the foul. Warriors’ bench looked stunned. Fans in the building and online? Losing it!

Had the call flipped, Edey would’ve fouled out right there. The challenge ultimately didn’t go in the Warriors’ favor, and the original foul on Draymond stood, much to the disbelief of the Dubs players and fans. This left many fans upset, especially considering the potential consequences.

Fans call out the refereeing as Draymond Green, for a change, remained innocent

As one fan put it, “That is genuinely an atrocious call, a game-changing one as well.” The frustration was real—this call had the potential to flip the game on its head, and when it didn’t go their way, the tension only grew. It’s moments like these that highlight just how impactful referee decisions can be in such a high-pressure environment. Fans couldn’t help but react with disbelief, knowing how much was at stake for both teams.

Another fan reacted to the incident with a sarcastic, yet frustrated remark: “Call stands, no 6th foul on Zach Edey. Draymond Green gets his 5th personal, he may kick someone in the junk and punch a baby next.”.

With the call standing, the game continued, and the focus shifted back to Draymond. Known for his fiery demeanor, Green’s actions on the court often push the envelope, and this fan’s hyperbole plays into the idea that you never really know what to expect from him. Draymond is no stranger to controversy, whether it’s a flagrant foul, a technical, or his notorious “kick.” So, when moments like this arise, fans are quick to express their concern that his next move could be even more over-the-top.

Yet another fan didn’t hold back, writing: “It’s calls like this that bring into question the legitimacy of the NBA. This is a clear offensive foul and it’s not close.” And honestly, it’s hard to blame them for feeling that way. With Zach Edey already sitting on five fouls, the stakes were sky-high. On the replay, it looked like Edey had clearly leaned into the DPOY favorite while fighting for the rebound—textbook offensive foul material. But somehow, the refs saw it the other way and hit Draymond with his fifth personal, instead.

One fan summed up the outrage perfectly, writing: “Draymond gets clubbed in the face before he even touches Edey tf did they watch.” And honestly? They’re not wrong for asking that. When you go back and look at the slow-mo replay, it’s clear Edey made the initial contact—an elbow brushing up near Draymond’s face as they battled for position under the rim. That kind of physicality usually screams offensive foul.

This fan’s reaction taps into a bigger issue—how can players and fans trust the flow of the game when such obvious contact goes the other way? The 4x champion’s reputation definitely doesn’t help him in these moments, but it shouldn’t override what actually happened on the floor.

One fan put their bias aside and still couldn’t believe what they saw: “I’m not a Draymond Green fan, but that foul on him is baloney. Edey should have just fouled out of this game.”. Even folks who don’t ride for Draymond could see the play was lopsided.

Calls like that don’t just spark debate—they shift momentum. In a playoff atmosphere where every possession is a war, fans expect the refs to keep things clean and fair, especially when a single foul could alter the flow of the game. And when even non-Warriors fans call it “baloney”? Yeah, it struck a nerve.

But here’s the kicker—despite the controversy, Golden State had the last laugh. They toughened it out and walked away with a 121-116 win. In the end, the whistles didn’t stop them, but the outrage sure gave the internet something to chew on.