Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, two of the Warriors’ biggest stars, are no strangers to the spotlight—especially when it comes to officiating. Some folks around the NBA seriously think Stephen Curry is getting baby-soft treatment from the refs—and it’s kinda wild. The Athletic just dropped its annual anonymous player poll, and a decent chunk of the league sounded off on how physical the game feels right now. When asked if there’s more balance between offense and defense since refs started letting players be more physical, most said no. Over 55% still think offense gets the edge, and 35% believe things are fair.

But then there’s the spicy 3.3%—the ones who say it’s flat-out inconsistent. It’s hard to take seriously the idea that Curry gets special treatment from referees.

Look at the numbers—he ranked 49th this season for fouls drawn, with just 3.5 per game. To put that in perspective, guys like Luka Doncic and LeBron James were way ahead of him. Even Austin Reaves drew more fouls than Curry. But now it’s not only limited to him, it extends to his other teammates as well. Tempers boiled over in Game 2 between the Warriors and Rockets, and it all started with a hard shove on Gary Payton II. Mid-drive, Payton got hit from behind—clearly shoved—and hit the floor. But to the disbelief of everyone on Golden State’s bench, no whistle followed.

Steve Kerr didn’t hold back. The Warriors head coach immediately lit into the refs, clearly frustrated by what he believed was a trip that went completely unchecked. His reaction wasn’t subtle. You could see the disbelief written all over his face, and honestly, he wasn’t wrong to be heated.

But the moment that really turned heads? Draymond Green nearly lost it. He was so enraged by the non-call that security had to step in and physically hold him back before he could go confront the official. And if you know Draymond, you know that level of fury doesn’t just happen over nothing. It was a full-on meltdown, sparked by what looked like a blatant missed call.

The Warriors spent almost the entire timeout venting about the no-call on GPII, with Kerr visibly furious. Draymond Green didn’t leave the court, staying to argue with the officials. Matt Young from Houston Chronicle caught all the tension, as emotions were clearly running high.

While emotions were running high earlier, the focus on the former DPOY was because of his playoff legacy.

Draymond Green scripts Warriors history

In Game 2 against the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green added another achievement to his resume, becoming the Warriors’ all-time leader in playoff games played. The official Warriors X account made the announcement, calling it “Dray Playoff Basketball,”, a well-earned milestone for a guy who’s been at the heart of this team’s playoff runs. With Steph and newly acquired Jimmy Butler alongside him, Green’s leadership is key to Golden State’s championship aspirations.

Even though Green’s stat line in Game 1—four points, six rebounds, and three assists—wasn’t flashy, he made his presence felt where it counts. Averaging 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists this season, Green’s offensive consistency may be up and down, but his defense has remained elite.

Draymond Green isn’t just logging playoff minutes—he’s defining what they mean for the Golden State Warriors. Before becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in playoff games played, Green delivered the most Draymond-esque takeaway after Game 1: tough love and high standards.

“Think we can play a lot better, that’s the encouraging part about it. I don’t think we played very well at all,” Green said postgame.

That’s the heartbeat of a four-time champion speaking. No back-pats. No self-congratulations. Just accountability. For Green, winning on the road isn’t a finish line—it’s just part of the job. The fact that he wasn’t satisfied speaks volumes about the expectations he continues to set in the locker room. Even in victory, the tone is: we haven’t arrived yet.

And then came the punchline that embodies who Draymond is at his core:

“Still got to find a way to win and we did that, with our defense.”

That’s where he lives. Defense. Communication. Leadership. All the things that rarely make headlines but win championships. Draymond is the anchor of Golden State’s defensive identity — the switch-everything system that only works because of his IQ, effort, and versatility. He guards your best player, barks out every rotation, and when things break down, he’s usually the one putting out fires.

Being the Warriors’ all-time leader in playoff games played isn’t just about availability — it’s about impact. It’s about showing up when it matters most, over and over again. And in Draymond’s case, it’s about bringing fire, fight, and accountability every step of the way.

He’s earned a spot as a Defensive Player of the Year finalist alongside Evan Mobley and Dyson Daniels, proving that his defensive prowess hasn’t missed a beat.

With the Warriors leading the series 1-0, a win over the Rockets sets them up for a showdown with the winner of the Lakers-Timberwolves series. Green’s historic feat serves as a reminder of his importance to the Warriors—he’s not just a key defender, but a foundational piece as Golden State looks to make another championship run. Keep an eye on him; Green’s leadership could be the X-factor that propels the Warriors deep into the playoffs.