Warriors' Kerr not surprised Draymond Green's foul upgraded to flagrant

SAN FRANCISCO — After some gamesmanship from Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, the NBA retroactively upgraded Draymond Green’s take foul on Zach Edey from Friday night’s game to a Flagrant 1.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr agreed with the league’s decision.

“He grabbed him,” Kerr said after Golden State’s Sunday practice. “Definitely a take foul like they called. I had no problem with it being upgraded to a Flagrant 1. I mean, that’s not a basketball play. It was more than a take. A take foul, you reach — a guy dribbles by you and you reach and grab them. This was holding a guy and tripping him in transition. I agreed with the Flagrant 1.”

After tripping on a drive with 7:06 left in the third quarter, Green locked Edey’s leg between his arm and side, preventing the Grizzlies rookie center from initiating a fast break.

The game devolved from there into a parade to the free throw line, with the flow of the game being significantly disrupted by physical play and officiating. The Warriors won, 120-117, but Kerr called the last quarter and a half “disgusting.”

At the end of the game, Green picked up two technical fouls — his third and fourth of the year — for his first ejection of the season. Kerr, who also picked up a late technical, was irate and screamed at the referees after the final buzzer. Moses Moody separated his coach from the refs.

“I’m not going to go into the officiating,” Kerr said. “I lose my mind sometimes. I’m really competitive. I’m not proud when I go overboard, and I probably went overboard. I just didn’t like the way the game unfolded in the second half. I’ll leave it at that.”

Jenkins and the Grizzlies were also upset by the way the game was officiated. Jenkins called out Green’s play on Edey in his postgame press conference, complaining that the play wasn’t reviewed in the moment.

“We were about to start the break, and (Edey’s) been playing really hard to try to outlet,” Jenkins said Friday. “Draymond grabs his leg and pulls him down. Doesn’t get reviewed. I know there’s a code in this league and I don’t understand how that wasn’t reviewed. Very disappointed.”

On an Instagram post displaying part of Jenkins’ quote, Green commented, “Shut up.”

Although Green isn’t on pace to beat his stated goal of fewer than 10 technical fouls this season, he has had an outstanding start to the season. He has captained a defense that ranks fourth in the league in efficiency and has helped Golden State’s elite ball movement.

“He’s been one of the keys to everything that’s happened to this point,” Kerr said. “Leading the defense, his energy in practice and leadership. Demanding execution in practice and in games. Draymond has been the very best version of himself. And that’s going to continue. I can see it in his eyes that he wants to have a great year. He wants us to have a great season. He’s totally committed and has been brilliant.”

Notable

— Lindy Waters III, who hyperextended his knee after making an incredible chase-down block on Friday, practiced Sunday and is expected to play Monday in Los Angeles. The guard took a scary fall but avoided a significant injury.

— The team is still waiting to learn more on De’Anthony Melton (sprained left ACL). Kerr said he’s still getting evaluated and the club should know more in the next few days. Melton will join the team on their trip to Los Angeles for Monday’s Clippers game.

— Kings guard De’Aaron Fox scored a combined 109 points over Sacramento’s past two games. The Warriors’ first of four meetings with the Kings is Jan. 5.

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