Santi Aldama downplayed his on-court altercation with Draymond Green, offering a measured response weeks after a Flagrant 1 foul and subsequent public criticism from the Golden State Warriors forward.
The incident occurred in late October when Green pulled Aldama down by the neck on a Memphis fast break, drawing a Flagrant 1 and igniting visible trash talk during the game.
Green escalated the situation afterward, calling Aldama “soft” and a “sucker” on his podcast, while accusing the Grizzlies forward of exaggerating contact to sell the call.
Nearly a month later, Aldama sounded unfazed when discussing the episode with Mark Medina of EssentiallySports.
“He loves to podcast,” Aldama said. “He’s probably just thinking about life after basketball.”
The 24-year-old forward added that Green’s account omitted key context, particularly Aldama’s physical condition at the time of the foul.
“I was already dealing with a shoulder injury,” Aldama said. “That only made it worse. It’s hard to sell a call that was so obvious. It’s a Flagrant 1. I don’t really need to sell a Flagrant 1.”
Despite the noise, the Spaniard maintained respect for Green’s résumé and competitive edge, noting that such confrontations are common when games carry physical intensity.
The comments came during a wide-ranging interview that touched on Aldama’s expanded role with the Memphis Grizzlies, who entered mid-December ninth in the Western Conference at 12–14.
Beyond the Green incident, Aldama discussed the Grizzlies’ season, citing a mix of injuries and strong performances. “It’s been a rough start with injuries, good stretches and bad stretches. But we’ve stayed through it. Even some games we won, we hadn’t made shots but we did the right stuff,” he said.
In his fifth NBA season, Aldama has taken on increased responsibility amid injuries, averaging 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shifting between frontcourt roles.
He praised teammate Zach Edey, who has been sidelined with injury. “He’s positive. He’s talking sh– with us. He’s staying involved. That’s important,” Aldama explained. He also described adjusting to a larger role in Edey’s absence, playing more at the ‘5’ position despite starting the season primarily as a ‘4.’
Aldama also discussed the adjustment to Tuomas Iisalo’s system, pointing to his international background as preparation for a numbers-driven, read-and-react style.
Aldama highlighted his defensive growth and versatility. “The challenge is mainly with the way we run the floor… Defensively, I think that I’ve stepped up and have been more aggressive and have been getting more deflections. I’m banging harder and feeling more comfortable with my body.”
Guarding elite players like Kawhi Leonard has been a learning experience for the 24-year-old. Aldama held Leonard to 3-for-11 shooting in three matchups. “It was not easy. It wasn’t fun. But I’m trusting my teammates,” he said.
The forward recently signed a three-year, $52 million extension, signaling the franchise’s belief in his long-term fit alongside Jaren Jackson Jr.
While the Green episode drew headlines, Aldama made clear it does not define his season or his approach.
“I’m just trying to win the basketball game,” Aldama said. “If somebody does a dirty play, I get up and move.”
For Aldama, the focus remains on internal growth, health and consistency as Memphis navigates a crowded Western Conference race.
