Draymond Green was called for a Flagrant 1 after running into Victor Wembanyama from behind and knocking him to the floor during the San Antonio Spurs’ 123 to 85 NBA Cup win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Nov. 13. The play came in the second quarter, moments after Wembanyama dunked on Green, with San Antonio already pulling away. Wembanyama was not hurt and finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
Afterward, Wembanyama kept it short, saying the play did not surprise him. As of Sunday, the NBA had not announced any further discipline.
What did Draymond Green do to Victor Wembanyama?
Golden State, playing without Stephen Curry, fell behind 18 to 0 to start the game. In the second quarter, during a Spurs run, Wembanyama threw down a dunk over Green. On the next trip, Green trailed the play and drove his shoulder into the 7 foot 4 center’s back while Wembanyama was fighting for rebounding position.
Officials reviewed the play and upgraded it from a loose ball foul to a Flagrant 1, citing Green’s wind up and acceleration into Wembanyama’s back. Green was subbed out shortly after and returned in the third quarter. He finished with four points, three rebounds and three assists on 2 of 5 shooting, with a minus 23 rating.
Draymond Green TACKLED Wemby after Wemby dunked on him 💀 https://t.co/097pXJ8O45
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) November 14, 2026
Will Draymond Green be suspended for the shove?
Fans and some writers are demanding it. A Flagrant 1 does not carry an automatic suspension, and the league often considers a player’s history when deciding whether to add a fine or suspension after review.
That history is long. Green has more than 20 career flagrant fouls, playoffs included, and has been suspended six times. That includes five games for putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock and an indefinite suspension, which lasted 12 games, for striking Jusuf Nurkic, both during the 2023 to 24 season. Still, this was his first flagrant of the current season, after three in 68 games last year.
Spurs reporter Dusty Garza suggested on X that San Antonio’s front office may already be in touch with the league office about what he described as a pattern of rough plays on Wembanyama throughout the night.
Was the hit part of the Warriors’ game plan?
There is no proof of that. Before the game, though, Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said the team wanted to pull Wembanyama away from the basket by shooting 3s and to be as physical with him as possible. After the shove, those comments landed differently with Spurs fans.
Green has never hidden his approach. He has argued that as an undersized big man, he has to impose himself on taller players to earn respect around the rim.
Why does this Draymond Green flagrant feel different?
Here is the twist few are talking about. Rewind to the 2026 playoffs.
When Wembanyama was ejected for a Flagrant 2 after elbowing Naz Reid during the Western Conference semifinals, the NBA chose not to suspend or fine him. Green quickly posted on X that people had called for his own career over less.
Then came the Finals. After a Flagrant 1 for elbowing Karl-Anthony Towns, Wembanyama sat at three flagrant points, one away from an automatic suspension. Green said on his podcast that Wembanyama should have been suspended, but called the league’s choice to keep him on the floor a business decision, and said it was the right one.
So Green spent the summer arguing that the league treats its young superstar with extra grace. Five months later, he is the one who knocked that superstar to the floor, and the league office now has to decide how much grace Green deserves. Wembanyama’s calm, two word style reaction might have been the loudest thing said all night. He has seen this coming since June.
